Effects of Mn, Si and Cr addition on the dissolution and coarsening of pearlitic cementite during intercritical austenitization in Fe-1mass%C alloy

In order to promote the understanding of the influence of an alloying element on the spheroidization of hypereutectoid steels, the effects of Mn, Si and Cr addition on the dissolution and coarsening kinetics of cementite from pearlitic structure during intercritical austenitization in Fe-1 mass% C alloy have been studied. The spheroidization of cementite lamellae and the kinetics of cementite dissolution are retarded by the addition of Mn or Cr but the influence of Si addition is not remarkable. The coarsening rate of cementite and the final cementite particle size after isothermal austenitization for 3600 s is considerably reduced by the addition of an alloying element. Mn and Cr are more effective than Si in retarding the coarsening of cementite particles and refining the cementite particle size, but the distribution of cementite particles in the Mn-added alloys is inhomogeneous.