Effects of high magnetic field on isothermal pearlite transformation and microstructure in a hypereutectoid steel

A high magnetic field was applied during the isothermal pearlite transformation of a hypereutectoid carbon steel at three different temperatures. It was found that the magnetic field applied can increase the transformation rate and the pearlite nodule growth rate, decrease the interlamellar spacing of pearlite and the amount of low angle boundary in ferrite lamella. The magnetic field effects are more obvious at high temperature. The mechanism of field-effect was discussed by analyzing the influences of high magnetic field on the eutectoid temperature, diffusion activation energy in austenite, Gibbs free energy of ferrite and dislocation mobility.