Skip to main content
Log in

Nucleation limitation and hardenability

  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relation between nucleation theory and hardenability of steels has been critically examined. The effect on hardenability of most elements with the exception of boron and strong carbide forming α-stabilizers, is found to be semiquantitatively consistent with classical nucleation theory. The “anomalous” effects of boron, chromium and molybdenum, are discussed in terms of possible physical interference of precursor reactions with ferrite formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. N. Hobstetter:Decomposition of Austenite by Diffusional Processes, V. F. Zackay and H. I. Aaronson, eds., Interscience Publishers, New York, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. W. Christian:The Theory of Transformations in Metals and Alloys, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. C. Russell:Phase Transformations, ASM, 1968.

  4. J. W. Cahn and J. E. Hilliard:J. of Chem. Phys., 1959, vol. 32 (3), p. 688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. E. Hilliard:Phase Transformation, ASM, 1968.

  6. M. Hillert:Jernkontorets Ann., 1957, vol. 141, p. 757.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. D. Coates:Met. Trans., 1973, vol. 4, p. 2313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Hultgren:Jernkontorets Ann., 1951, vol. 135, p. 403.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Hillert:Ibid, 1952, vol. 136, p. 25.

    Google Scholar 

  10. H. I. Aaronson, H. A. Domian, and G. M. Pound:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1966, vol. 236, p. 768.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. R. C. Sharma: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, unpublished research, 1972.

  12. J. B. Gilmour, G. R. Purdy, and J. S. Kirkaldy:Met. Trans., 1972, vol. 3, p. 1455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. M. Hillert:Decomposition of Austenite by Diffusional Processes, V. F. Zackay and H. I. Aaronson, eds., Interscience Publishers, New York, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  14. P. G. Shewmon:Transformations in Metals, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1969.

  15. P. L. Ryder, W. Pitsch, and R. F. Mehl:Acta Met., 1967, vol. 15, p. 1431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. P. L. Ryder and W. Pitsch:Acta Met., 1966, vol. 14, p. 1437.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. N. Kennon and G. R. Purdy: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, unpublished research, 1970.

  18. P. J. Clemm and J. C. Fisher:Acta Met., 1955, vol. 3, p. 70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. K. C. Russell:Acta Met., 1969, vol. 17, p. 1123.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. L. Onsager:Phys. Rev., 1931, vol. 37, p. 405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. R. Trivedi: Ph.D. Thesis, Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1966, as quoted by H. I. Aaronson, C. Laird, and K. R. Kinsman, Phase Transformations, ASM, 1968.

  22. K. R. Kinsman and H. I. Aaronson:Transformation and Hardenability in Steels, Climax Molybdenum, Ann Arbor, 1967, p. 33.

  23. G. R. Purdy, D. H. Weichert, and J. S. Kirkaldy:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1964, vol. 230, p. 1025.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. W. A. Johnson and R. F. Mehl:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1939, vol. 135, p. 416.

    Google Scholar 

  25. C. A. Dube: Ph.D. Thesis, Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1948.

  26. H. W. Paxton:J. Chem. Phys., 1957, vol. 26, p. 1769.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. J. A. Malcolm and G. R. Purdy:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1967, vol. 239, p. 1391.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. M. G. Hall, H. I. Aaronson, and K. R. Kinsman:Surface Science, 1972, vol. 31, p. 257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. A. M. Adair, J. W. Spretnak, and R. Speiser:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1955, vol. 203, p. 353.

    Google Scholar 

  30. C. Zener:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1946, vol. 167, p. 550.

    Google Scholar 

  31. G. F. Melloy, P. R. Summon, and P. P. Podgursky:Met. Trans., 1973, vol. 4, p. 2279.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. A. Hultgren:Trans. ASM, 1947, vol. 39, p. 915.

    Google Scholar 

  33. M. Hillert:The Mechanism of Phase Transformations in Crystalline Solids, Inst. of Metals, Monograph No. 33, 1969, p. 331.

  34. H. I. Aaronson:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1962, vol. 224, p. 870.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. J. Tiley: M. Eng. Thesis, McMaster University, 1972.

  36. H. I. Aaronson: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, private communication, 1972.

  37. H. I. Aaronson and H. A. Domian:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1966, vol. 236, p. 781.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This paper is based on a presentation made at a symposium on “Hardenability” held at the Cleveland Meeting of The Metallurgical Society of AIME, October 17, 1972, under the sponsorship of the IMD Heat Treatment Committee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sharma, R.C., Purdy, G.R. Nucleation limitation and hardenability. Metall Trans 4, 2303–2311 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02669369

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02669369

Keywords

Navigation