Cluster Dynamics Modeling of Niobium and Titanium Carbide Precipitates

TL;DR

This paper uses cluster dynamics simulations to analyze the formation and behavior of niobium and titanium carbide precipitates in iron, examining effects of temperature, concentration, and initial conditions, and comparing results with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed cluster dynamics model for niobium and titanium carbides in iron, highlighting the influence of alloy dilution and initial cluster distribution on precipitate kinetics.

Findings

Initial cluster distribution has limited long-term impact.

Dilute alloys behave differently from less dilute ones.

Simulation results align with experimental observations.

Abstract

Kinetics of niobium and titanium carbide precipitates in iron has been simulated with cluster dynamics. The simulations, carried out in austenite and ferrite for niobium carbides, respectively in austenite for titanium carbide, were analyzed for dependency on temperature, solute concentration, and initial cluster distribution. The results are presented for different temperatures and solute concentrations and compared to available experimental data. They show little impact of initial cluster distribution beyond a certain relaxation time and that highly dilute alloys with only monomers present a significantly different behavior than less dilute alloys or alloys with different initial cluster distribution.