Formation and growth of transition metal carbides in ferrite

Carbide nano-precipitates are commonly used to improve mechanical properties of steel. It has been experimentally observed that TiC, NbC, and VC carbide precipitates initially form as ‘plate-like’ particles oriented in the {1 0 0} planes of the ferrite lattice. These platelets share similarities with Guinier-Preston zones in Al-Cu alloys. The...

Atomistic simulation of carbide formation in ferrite

In this study possible routes from dissolved M and C atoms to a M-C (M = Ti, Nb) cluster are studied. Using atomistic modelling to perform relaxation simulations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the Fe-M-C ternary system, the formation of clusters is studied for M. Additionally the stability of M-C clusters is assessed. The...

A reference-free MEAM potential for α-Fe and γ-Fe

A reference-free modified embedded atom method (RF-MEAM) potential for iron has been constructed. The new potential is made to predict both bcc and fcc (α-Fe and γ-Fe) lattice properties, with a special interest in modelling in the 800-1300 K temperature range. This is the range in which transformations and key processes in steel occur. RF...

Approximation and characteristic times in precipitation modelling

A new approximation to the equations describing Classical Nucleation and Growth Theories, is proposed providing quick, and intuitive insight. It gives a prediction of the mean precipitate radius and number density development under quasi-isothermal conditions. Current “mean-radius”, and “multi-class” approaches to modelling classical nucleation...