Creation of a fine-grained and deformed structure with fine carbide particles in a Fe3Al-Cr-Mo-C alloy

A thermomechanical process has been performed to create a fine-grained and deformed structure with a large amount of fine carbide particles in a Cr, Mo and C containing Fe3Al-based alloy. By hot rolling at 800 °C to a reduction of 65%, high local misorientation of 8-10 degree per μm was frequently produced in the matrix around large M(Cr, Mo, Fe)2C particles of which volume fraction is 2.6%. A homogeneous recrystallised structure with average grain size of 70 μm and almost random texture was obtained by particle stimulated nucleation after a subsequent annealing between 900 and 1100 °C for 10 min. Annealing at 1100 °C dissolved 60% of the large carbides into the matrix. A subsequent hot deformation during cooling from 1100 °C led to the formation of a deformed matrix with fine M2C carbide particles.