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Diffraction-line shifts and broadenings in continuously and discontinuously coarsening precipitate-matrix systems: coarsening of initially coherent nitride precipitates in a ferrite matrix

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Abstract

The initial precipitation of misfitting particles can be accompanied by elastic accommodation of the precipitate/matrix misfit leading to considerable matrix lattice dilatation/contraction and variable lattice microstrain. In this stage, the entire assembly of matrix and precipitate particles, as a whole, can diffract coherently. Upon aging of the system, relaxation of the accommodated misfit can occur by continuous and/or discontinuous coarsening of the precipitates. These processes are associated with distinctly different, characteristic diffraction phenomena, also involving a transition from coherent to incoherent diffraction of precipitates and matrix. For the case of, initially fully coherent, alloying element nitrides in a homogeneously nitrided ferrite matrix, these effects have been identified and analyzed, thus allowing tracing of misfit-relaxation processes.

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Notes

  1. Note that in both Fe–Mo and Fe–Cr–Mo alloys, actually a discontinuous precipitation (DP) reaction, from the cubic CP-nitride to the hexagonal DP-nitride, occurs. Still, as in the case of a DC reaction, the DP reaction is associated with (full) misfit-strain relaxation in the DP regions, leading to the same effects in the XRD patterns as for a DC reaction.

  2. During this effective aging treatment, the nitriding conditions were maintained in order to avoid the possible dissolution of nitrides and the escape of nitrogen from the specimens.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. E. Bischoff for the TEM investigations, Mr. W.-D. Lang for preparation of the TEM specimens, and Mr. P. Kress for assistance with the nitriding experiments (all with Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems) and Prof. A. Leineweber (now with TU Bergakademie Freiberg) for valuable discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (formerly MPI for Metals Research), Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    T. Steiner, M. Akhlaghi, S. R. Meka & E. J. Mittemeijer

  2. Robert Bosch GmbH Heat Treatment Processes and Heat Treatment Technology (CR/APM4), Postbox 300240, 70442, Stuttgart, Germany

    T. Steiner

  3. Institute for Materials Science, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    E. J. Mittemeijer

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  1. T. Steiner
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  2. M. Akhlaghi
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Correspondence to S. R. Meka.

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Steiner, T., Akhlaghi, M., Meka, S.R. et al. Diffraction-line shifts and broadenings in continuously and discontinuously coarsening precipitate-matrix systems: coarsening of initially coherent nitride precipitates in a ferrite matrix. J Mater Sci 50, 7075–7086 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9262-z

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