The Complex Computational System for Simulating the Carbonitride Precipitation Process and Precipitate Microstructure in Microalloyed Steels

Microalloying elements such as Nb, V or Ti are added to steels to improve their mechanical properties through precipitation strengthening and grain refinement. Due to the strong chemical affinity of these elements for interstitial elements (C, N), nitrides, carbides or products of their mutual solubility, carbonitrides may form. The basic stereological parameters of precipitates, such as size, 𝑟𝑟, and volume fraction, 𝑉𝑉𝑣𝑣, play a key role in determining the strengthening effect and consequently influence the mechanical properties of steel. The complex computational system for simulating the carbonitride precipitation process was developed and implemented. One of the most important modules of the system enables simulation of the precipitate microstructure in microalloyed steels and calculation of the stereological parameters of precipitates. The obtained results provide quantitative information on the carbonitride precipitation process and the stereological parameters of precipitates, which may be used as input data for further mechanical property modelling. The developed computational system is described and validated through comparison with experimental observations.