Proposition of an Empirical Functional Equation to Predict the Kinetics of Austenite to Ferrite Transformation in a Continuous Cooled IF-Ti-Stabilized Steel

Abstract

The kinetics of phase transformations in isothermal processes is well described by the classic JMAK model. However, it is known that most industrial facilities employ continuous cooling processes and, for this condition, the JMAK model is adapted but, sometimes, without success. Considering the importance to predict critical temperatures, the present work proposes an alternative empirical functional equation to describe the kinetics of steel phase transformation under continuous cooling, being useful when the JMAK use is not successful. In this study, the continuous cooling austenite to ferrite transformation was experimentally characterized by dilatometry for an IF-Ti-stabilized steel. The proposed equation was compared with the classic adapted JMAK model regarding to evaluate its efficacy to fit the dilatometric experimental data. Using the constants obtained by the both model fittings as input parameters, a computational simulation was performed to determine the CCT diagram of the IF-Ti steel. The proposed functional equation was efficient to predict the critical temperatures, the kinetics of austenite decomposition and the CCT diagram of the studied steel. The results predicted by the proposed model greatly met the experimental data measured by dilatometry.