Volume fraction dependent particle coarsening in plain carbon steel

Literature indicates that the kinetics of cementite particle coarsening should be enhanced by the increase of volume fraction of carbides, but none of the investigators has confirmed it by quantitative experimental data analysis. In the present work three hypoeutectoid plain carbon steels have been hardened by water quenching and tempered isothermally between 861–973 K for 1.5–209 h. Mean particle diameter , volume fraction Vv, specific interfacial energy, σ activation energy Qeff, diffusivity Deff and effect of volume fraction Km have been estimated and an attempt has been made to throw some light on the mechanism of cementite particle coarsening including the effect of volume fraction on the kinetics of coarsening.