Experimental evaluation of the particle size dependence of the dislocation–particle interaction force in TiC-precipitation-strengthened steel

The particle size dependence of the interaction force per TiC particle was experimentally evaluated from the amount of particle strengthening and the particle spacing. The amount of pure particle strengthening by TiC precipitates was successfully estimated from ferritic model steels with significantly low dislocation density and homogeneously dispersed fine precipitates. The interaction force indicated that very fine TiC particles are effective and that an equivalent volume diameter of 2–3 nm is the most potent for particle strengthening.