Materials Science Forum, Vol.467-470, 1169-1174, 2004
Study of nucleation mechanisms during dynamic recrystallization of a coarse Nb microalloyed austenite
The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of a coarse grain sized Nb microalloyed austenite ( similar to 800 mum), typical of thin slab casting processes, has been studied. Continuous torsion tests were carried out at different, Z, Zener-Hollomon parameter values. It has been observed that as Z increases the curves move to higher values of stress and both the peak, epsilon(p), and steady state, epsilon(ss), occur at larger strains, with an increase in the epsilon(ss) - epsilon(p) strain difference. Consequently, an increment in Z produces a delay in the beginning and the progression of the DRX process. In the present work, it has been found that the pre-existing grain boundaries are the most favorable nucleation sites for DRX for all Z values, the nucleation mechanisms being related to strain induced migration of high angle grain boundaries. However, in the case of high Z values, intragranular nucleation on defects generated during deformation is also observed. The microstructure analysis denotes also that dynamic recrystallization is a process dominated by repeated nucleation with limited growth.