Characteristics and kinetics of bainite transformation behaviour in a high-silicon medium-carbon steel above and below the Mₛ temperature

Abstract This work deals with the kinetic aspects of bainite formation during isothermal holding above and below the martensite start (Mₛ~275 °C) temperature using a low-alloy, high-silicon DIN 1.5025 steel in a range suitable for achieving ultrafine/nanostructured bainite. Dilatation measurements were conducted to study transformation behaviour and kinetics, while the microstructural features were examined using laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques combined with hardness measurements. The results showed that for isothermal holding above the Mₛ temperature, the maximum bainitic transformation rate decreased with the decrease in isothermal holding temperature between 450 and 300 °C. On the other hand, for isothermal holding below the Mₛ temperature at 250 and 200 °C, the maximum rate of transformation was achieved corresponding to region I due to the partitioning of carbon and also possibly because of the ledged growth of isothermal martensite soon after the start of isothermal holding. In addition, a second peak was obvious at about 100 and 500 s, respectively, during holding at 250 and 200 °C due to the occurrence of bainitic transformation, marking the beginning of region II