A phase-field method coupled with CALPHAD for the simulation of ordered κ-carbide precipitates in both disordered γ and α phases in low density steel

In order to simulate multi-component diffusion controlled precipitation of ordered phases in low density steels using the phase-field method, the Gibbs free energy of the γ,α and κ phases in the quaternary Fe-Mn-Al-C system was linked to the CALPHAD method using a three-sublattice model which is based on the accumulation of considerable thermodynamic data in multi-component systems and the assurance of continuous variation of the interface area. This model includes the coherent precipitation of κ phase from a disordered FCC γ phase and semi-coherent precipitation of the same κ phase from a disordered BCC α structure. The microstructure evolution of κ-carbide was simulated with three-dimensional phase-field model. The simulation was first performed for a single particle in both γ and α phases to investigate the evolution of interfacial and elastic strain energy during the precipitation process. The simulation results show that κ has a cuboidal morphology in γ and elongated plate-like morphology in α which is in agreement with the morphologies reported in the literature. The multi-particle simulations were also performed for the precipitation of κ phase from both disordered γ and α. The results also demonstrate that the size of κ precipitates in γ is remarkably smaller than that in α phase.