Modeling recrystallization of microalloyed austenite: effect of coupling recovery, precipitation and recrystallization

In this contribution, existing models for precipitation, recovery and recrystallization have been coupled, with their interdependencies explained, to describe the microstructural evolution in a supersaturated alloy after hot deformation. Microalloyed austenite has been used as an example system and the time evolution of the precipitate diameter and the recrystallization and softening fractions are compared with the available experimental data. The model predictions are in excellent quantitative agreement with the experimental observations. Particular attention is paid to the occurrence of ‘plateaus’ or ‘humps’ in the softening and recrystallization fraction plots. In both cases, the incorporation of recovery is an essential ingredient for a quantitative description of the microstructural evolution in the hot-worked structure.