ANALYSIS OF THE QUENCHING AND PARTITIONING (Q&P) PROCESS WITH PARTIAL AUSTENITISATION IN A LOW-CARBON STEEL BY PHASE FIELD MODELLING

The phase field model is used to simulate the Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) process, including partial austenitisation, in a low carbon steel containing 1.1 wt.% aluminium. The initial microstructure, prior to the partial austenitisation, has been used as input for the model. Calculations have shown the formation of epitaxial ferrite during cooling, which was also experimentally observed, and a grain size dependence of the carbon enrichment of the austenite. Simulations have shown an Interface migration during the partitioning step, leading to changes in the volume fraction of austenite that depends on the quenching temperature used.