Interface characteristics and precipitation during the austenite-to-ferrite transformation of a Ti-Mo microalloyed steel

Abstract The complexity of interphase precipitation in a Fe-0.19C-1.54Mn-0.4Si-0.06Al-0.13Mo-0.06Ti (at%) high strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel at an early stage of the austenite-to-ferrite transformation was studied by analyzing the solute distribution across ferrite-austenite interfaces with Kurdjumov-Sachs (K-S) and non-K-S orientation relationships (OR). Structural characterization i.e. ferrite/austenite OR and habit plane characteristics was performed by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and the clustering back-calculation approach, while solute distributions i.e. the solute concentration spikes in the interface regions were studied by atom probe tomography (APT) on the specimens specifically prepared across/near the ferrite/austenite interfaces. It was shown for the first time that interphase precipitation is promoted at both types of interface: (i) a K-S OR and habit plane deviated from ideal (110)α//(111)γ and (ii) a non K-S OR. The key aspect of interphase precipitation is the distribution of solute atoms across the interface, which is pronounced Mn, Ti, Mo and C concentration spikes at the interphase boundary. In contrast, interphase precipitates were not formed at the coherent interface with a K-S OR and habit plane of (110)α//(111)γ. This was correlated with the interfacial condition, where the compositional ratio of substitutional solute and solvent elements remains almost constant across the interface, i.e. Mn and C spikes. Interface compositions in this study did not match with local equilibria (negligible partitioning local equilibrium and paraequilibrium) limits. In addition, it appeared that the interfaces with Mn, Ti, Mo and C concentration spikes form ledges leading to randomly redistributed interphase precipitates.