Austenite Grain Growth in a 2.25Cr-1Mo Vanadium-Free Steel Accounting for Zener Pinning and Solute Drag: Experimental Study and Modeling

Austenite grain size has been experimentally determined for various austenitization temperatures and times in a 2.25Cr-1Mo vanadium-free steel. Three grain growth regimes were highlighted: limited growth occurs at lower temperatures [1193 K (920 °C) and 1243 K (970 °C)]; parabolic growth prevails at higher temperatures [1343 K (1070 °C) and 1393 K (1120 °C)]. At the intermediate temperature of 1293 K (1020 °C), slowed down growth was observed. Classical grain growth equations were applied to the experimental results, accounting for Zener pinning and solute drag as possible causes for temperature-dependent limited growth. It was shown that Zener pinning due to AlN particles could not be responsible for limited growth, although it has some effect at lower temperatures. Instead, limited and slow growths are very likely to be the result of segregation of molybdenum atoms at austenite grain boundaries. The temperature-dependence of this phenomenon may be linked to the co-segregation of molybdenum and carbon atoms.