The Role of Manganese in the Formation of Proeutectoid Ferrite

Abstract

<p> The Fe-C-Mn phase diagram has been calculated from thermodynamic data. Experimentally determined tie-lines are in good agreement with the calculated diagram. </p> <p> It has been shown that the assumption that the austenite-ferrite interface is in a local equilibrium condition during the late stages of the transformation in highly supersaturated alloys and at all times in alloys in an area of low supersaturation is justified. The approximate solution to the diffusion equations correctly predicts the experimentally determined manganese concentration profiles. </p> <p> Hillert's concept of paraequilibrium has been examined and explicitly defined. The concentration given by a paraequilibrium calculation correctly predicts the experimentally observed growth rates of Kinsman and Aaronson (1967) for very highly supersaturated alloys. </p> <p> A convolution technique for use in the interpretation of strongly localized concentration changes determined by electron beam microanalysis has been developed. </p>