Dilatometric analysis of cementite dissolution in hypereutectoid steels containing Cr

Cementite dissolution in hypereutectoid steels containing Cr is analyzed using dilatometry combined with consideration of the carbon content in the austenite. The results suggest that the austenite transformed from the mixture of ferrite and cementite has a carbon content that corresponds roughly to equilibrium with ferrite. The overall dissolution behavior of cementite is described well with the suggested analytical procedure.

► We analyze the cementite dissolution in hypereutectoid steels containing Cr using dilatometry combined with the consideration of the carbon content in the austenite. ► An analysis of the results indicates that the carbon concentration to use is that which places the growing austenite in equilibrium with the ferrite. ► An alternative scenario where the growing phase inherits the average composition of pearlite is shown not to be viable.