Kinetic peculiarities of subcooled austenite decomposition in steels after austenization under rapid heating conditions

Kinetics of subcooled austenite decomposition is studied depending on the initial pre-heating structure of Cr-Ni and Cr-Mo steels, heating rate and temperature, time of austenization. The complex relation of steel hardenability to temperature and time conditions of austenization and initial steel structure has been ascertained. The effect of increased stability of subcooled austenite at the first and second decomposition stages after a short austenization has been revealed. The obtained results are explained by the effect of phase transformation-induced hardening, chemical heterogeneity and austenite grain size on decomposition kinetics