Isothermal treatment influence on nanometer-size carbide precipitation of titanium-bearing low carbon steel

The precipitation kinetics of nano-size TiC particles in ferrites depends on the annealing temperature. At 700°C, 725°C, and 750°C, the majority of nano TiC particles are found to distribute along the austenite/ferrite interfaces. These nano-size carbides strengthen the ferrite matrix. At the lower annealing temperatures of 650°C and 675°C, a few randomly distributed nano TiC precipitates develop in the ferrite matrix from the supersaturated ferrite solid solution. In this case, the strength of the ferrite is attributed to the nanoparticle strengthening and solid-solution strengthening.