Kinetics of austenite grain growth in medium-carbon niobium-bearing steel

In order to locate a reasonable heating system, the austenite grain growth behavior of Nb microalloyed medium carbon steel has been experimentally studied at various austenitizing temperatures and for different holding times. It is indicated that austenite grain growth increases with increasing austenitizing temperatures and holding times. Particularly when the austenitizing temperature was above 1100 °C, austenite grains grew rapidly, and an abnormal austenite grain growth was observed. When the austenitizing temperature was lower than 1100 °C, austenite grain size and growth rate were small. The activation energy of grain growth in the tested steel is 397 679.5 J/mol. To ensure an absence of coarse grains in microstructures, the heating technology of the tested steel should be controlled for 1 h at 1100 °C. The relationships of austenite average grain size with soaking temperature and time of tested steel were obtained by mathematical calculation, and austenite average grain size was found to be in agreement with the measured size for different holding times.