V. Massardier

Role of Manganese and Chromium on the Segregation Kinetics of Carbon and Nitrogen to the Dislocations in Ferritic Steels

The thermoelectric power (or TEP) technique was used to determine the segregation kinetics of the interstitial atoms (C or N) to the dislocations in various extra-mild steels submitted to a heavy deformation by cold-rolling when substitutional atoms (Mn or Cr) are simultaneously in solid solution. It was shown that the substitutional atoms (Mn or Cr) have almost no influence on the segregation kinetics of carbon and on the activation energy associated with the segregation of this element. In contrast, these elements tend to delay the segregation kinetics of nitrogen to the dislocations all the more so as their content in solution is high. In the mean time, the activation energy associated with the segregation of nitrogen is increased.