Bainite: The Incomplete-Reaction Phenomenon and the Approach to Equilibrium

H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia

Abstract

This research paper investigates the incomplete-reaction phenomenon in alloy steels, specifically examining why the isothermal transformation to bainite stops before reaching equilibrium carbon levels. Through dilatometric and metallographic analysis, the author argues that the initial rapid growth of bainite occurs via a displacive mechanism rather than through diffusion. The study suggests that once this primary reaction terminates, the remaining austenite only begins to transform further through slow, interface-reaction controlled growth over extended periods. Included in the documentation is a scholarly debate where peers critique the limitations of the experimental techniques and the interpretation of interfacial structures. Ultimately, the author maintains that the stagnation of the reaction is a fundamental characteristic of bainite formation rather than a result of simple growth restrictions.

Proc. of the International Solid-Solid Phase Transformations Conference, Pittsburgh, 1981, pp. 1041-1048. Published by The Metallurgical Society of the A. I. M. E., Warrendale, PA, USA.

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