A quantitative description of recrystallization and grain growth in single phase BCC iron

This paper provides a description of the geometrical aspects of static recrystallization in alpha-Fe. Geometrical properties of two-dimensional sections, volume, shape and spatial distribution of nuclei/grains have been measured and from them, using stereological methods, three-dimensional microstructural evolution has been followed. The results show that recrystallization nuclei in alpha-Fe form clusters and that the nucleation of defect-free nuclei and grain growth occurs concurrently during recrystallization. The recrystallization process is characterized not only by changes in the size of nuclei/grains but also by alterations in their shape. Copyright (C) 1996 Acta Metallurgica Inc.