Kinetics of pearlite spheroidization

The pearlite spheroidization in Fe-0.76%C high purity steel was investigated. The samples of a coarse pearlite microstructure were isothermal annealed at 700, 680, 660, 640 and 620°C for various times, up to 800 hours. For quantitative description of the spheroidization process stereological parameter, SV (ferrite/cementite interface surface density) was used. The activation energy 104.8±11.4 kJ/mol was found for the spheroidization process. This value shows good agreement with the activation energy for iron and carbon diffusion along a ferrite/cementite interface, so the coupled interface diffusion is the rule-controlling process.