Modeling of Austenite Decomposition in Low Si-Mn TRIP Steel During Cooling

Transformation behavior in low carbon Si-Mn TRIP steel was investigated by means of microstructural observation and computer modelling. A transformation model in which transformation is controlled by carbon diffusion was suggested, which well described the volume fractional change of ferrite, pearlite, and bainite during continuous cooling. The influence of Si content and austenite grain size was thoroughly investigated. The calculated results indicated that Si retards pearlite transformation, accelerates polygonal ferrite transformation, refines the austenite grain, and increases the ferrite transformation rate.