2013 Volume 53 Issue 3 Pages 527-534
A cellular automaton model has been developed to simulate the austenite nucleation and growth of hypoeutectoid steel during heating process. In the model, the dissolution of pearlite, the transformation of ferrite into austenite and austenite grain coarsening were simulated. To validate the model, dilatometric and quenching experiments were carried out. The dilatometric experiment was conducted using a DIL805A dilatometer, and experimental data was employed to study phase transformation kinetics and validate the model. While the quenching experiment was conducted using a chamber electric furnace, and metallographic examination was carried out. The simulated results were compared with the experimental results and the capability of the model for quantitatively predicting the microstructure evolution of the steel in heating process was assessed.
