Study of Grain-Growth Kinetics in Delta-Ferrite and Austenite with Application to Thin-Slab Cast Direct-Rolling Microalloyed Steels

The high-temperature grain-growth kinetics in delta-ferrite and austenite is investigated. The delta-ferrite growth kinetics was observed directly on a model alloy that contained 2.5 wt pct aluminum in order to stabilize delta-ferrite down to room temperature. The gamma grain-growth kinetics was by etching the former austenite grain boundaries in a precipitate-free variant of APIX60 steel. At high temperatures and in the absence of precipitation, the growth kinetics in both delta-ferrite and austenite appeared to follow a simple parabolic growth law. The findings are applied to the problem of grain-size control during the process of thin-slab casting direct rolling (TSCDR).