A Finite-Element Approach for the Partitioning of Carbon in Q&P Steel

This paper reports a Galerkin finite-element analysis of carbon partitioning from martensite into austenite during the quenching and partitioning (Q&P) processes in steels. In contrast to classical or sophisticated diffusion field models, an alternative nonlinear governing equation based on chemical potential and composition is considered. The model is applied to simulate the carbon partitioning of modified 22MnB5 alloys assuming an immobile austenite-martensite phase boundary and, in turn, is compared with experimental measurements of the volume fraction and carbon content of retained austenite. The simulations show outstanding results on the influence of Si and C content on the partitioning parameters.