Effect of C on the martensitic transformation in Fe-C alloys in the presence of pre-existing defects

A molecular dynamics study

Journal Article (2019)
Author(s)

Shivraj Karewar (TU Delft - (OLD) MSE-3)

Jilt Sietsma (TU Delft - (OLD) MSE-3, TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Maria Santofimia Navarro (TU Delft - (OLD) MSE-3)

Research Group
(OLD) MSE-3
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst9020099 Final published version
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Publication Year
2019
Language
English
Research Group
(OLD) MSE-3
Issue number
2
Volume number
9
Article number
99
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229
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Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the atomic effects of carbon (C) addition in Fe on the martensitic phase transformation in the presence of pre-existing defects such as stacking faults and twin boundaries. The pre-existing defect structures in Fe-C alloys have the same effect on the atomistic mechanisms of martensitic transformation as in pure Fe. However, C addition decreases the martensitic transformation temperature. This effect is captured by characterizing three parameters at the atomic level: atomic shear stresses, atomic energy, and total energy as a function of temperature for face-centered-cubic (fcc) and body-centered-cubic (bcc) phases. The thermodynamic effect of fcc phase stabilization by C addition is revealed by the atomic energy at a particular temperature and total energy as a function of temperature. The barrier for fcc-to-bcc transformation is revealed by analysis of atomic shear stresses. The analysis indicates that addition of C increases the atomic shear stresses for atomic displacements during martensitic transformation, which in turn decreases the martensitic transformation temperature.