Dislocations in FCC and BCC iron due to C interstitials

  • Thread starter Thread starter memo_juentes
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Fcc Iron
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the differing strengthening effects of interstitial carbon in face-centered cubic (FCC) and body-centered cubic (BCC) iron alloys. Participants explore the mechanisms behind these differences, including the role of slip systems and the solubility limits of carbon in various iron phases.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that FCC iron has more slip systems than BCC iron, which may influence the strengthening effect of carbon interstitials.
  • Another participant questions which structure, BCC or FCC, would result in a more strengthened iron due to carbon interstitials.
  • A later reply suggests that ferritic steels (BCC) typically have higher yield stresses than austenitic steels (FCC), implying that the addition of carbon would further increase the yield stress in ferritic steels.
  • One participant provides a detailed explanation of plastic deformation in metals, highlighting that carbon forms an interstitial solid solution with iron and impedes dislocation movement, thus requiring higher stress for plastic deformation.
  • The same participant mentions that austenite has a higher solubility limit for carbon compared to ferrite, suggesting that this could contribute to austenite's greater resistance to deformation.
  • It is noted that solid solutions are generally stronger than pure metals, which may apply to the effects of carbon in iron.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relative strengthening effects of carbon interstitials in FCC versus BCC iron, with no consensus reached on which structure is definitively stronger when carbon is added.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the effects of carbon solubility limits and the nature of slip in different crystal structures, which may not be fully resolved.

memo_juentes
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
I was just wondering why is it that the strengthening effect of interstitial carbon is different in FCC and BCC iron alloys. I can't figure this one out on my own so I thought I'd come to the place where the smart people hang out.

Any opinions?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
What I meant to ask was which one would result in a more strengthened iron, C interstitials on BCC or FCC?
 
memo_juentes said:
What I meant to ask was which one would result in a more strengthened iron, C interstitials on BCC or FCC?

I'm pretty sure that ferritic steels have higher yield stresses than austenitic steels anyway, so adding C would only increase it.
 
"Plastic deformation proceeds in metals by a process known as 'slip', that is, by one layer or plane of atoms gliding over another (the motion of the dislocations).
All metals of similar crystal structure slip on the same crystallographic planes and in the same crystallographic directions. Slip occurs when the shear stress resolved along these planes reaches a certain value —the critical resolved shear stress.
This is a property of the material and does not depend upon the structure. The process of slip is facilitated by
the presence of the metallic bond, since there is no need to break direct bonds between individual atoms as there is in co-valent or electro-valent structures." (Higgins, 1993)

The carbon effect
The carbon form an intertitial solid solution with Fe. These carbon in the solution tend to impede or stop the movement of the dislocation, so that a higher stress is required to allow the movement of dislocations, i.e., plastically deform the metal.

So, if the phase austenite has a higher solubility limit for carbon (2.0%), it will be more resistant.
Frequently ferrite phase is compared with Fe pure, cause it can absorb only 0.02%.
And solid solutions are stronger than pure metals.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
5K
Replies
12
Views
6K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
5K