LAUSR

ABSTRACT The effect of solute drag on austenite grain growth in hypoeutectoid plain carbon steel is studied by rigorous experimentation and an analytical modelling approach. Experimental results clearly indicate grain growth retardation with increasing solute content. The conceptualised ‘drag parameter’ in the developed analytical model explains the solute drag effect quite satisfactorily, in terms of a driving energy (related to a reduction in the surface energy) and an opposing drag energy. Further experimental support is provided by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, which corroborate the existence of solute clustering at grain boundaries.