Context

Grain boundaries and phase interfaces are key microstructural features that significantly affect the mechanical properties of metallic alloys. These interfaces play a critical role in a variety of processes, including intergranular and brittle fracture, oxidation, nucleation and growth during phase transformations, recrystallization, and grain growth . In steels, the austenite/ferrite interface is of particular importance as it largely determines the final microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. Recent research has highlighted the importance of incorporating the physical properties of interfaces — such as energy, mobility, and interaction with alloying elements — into models to accurately predict microstructural evolution during complex thermo-mechanical processes [3,4]. For example, the solute drag effect, where impurities interact with moving interfaces, affects the kinetics of phase transformation in steels.

In addition, the properties of interfaces vary with their crystallographic structure. For example, it has been shown experimentally that solute segregation depends on the character of the austenite-ferrite interface, and the resulting heterogeneous segregation can affect the kinetics of phase transformation and thus the final properties.

However, existing models that describe microstructural evolution in steels are limited to isotropic properties of the interface. While some attempts have been made to account for anisotropic properties in grain boundary migration, the same has not been thoroughly investigated for interphase interfaces.

Objective

Therefore, the primary objective of this project is to investigate the effect of interfacial anisotropies on the kinetics of austenite to ferrite transformation in alloy steels. Special emphasis will be placed on the

anisotropy of segregation behavior as a function of interfacial character.

To apply

For those interested, please send detailed CV and motivation letter to



Imed-Eddine Benrabah (email)

Funding category: Contrat doctoral



PHD Country: France