Substructural phase transitions during intense plastic deformation of low-carbon ferrite-perlite steel

We have studied the evolution of the defect structure and phase composition of low-carbon ferrite-perlite steel subjected to intense plastic deformation using diffraction electron microscopy. It has been shown that a high degree of deformation is accompanied by disruption of the perlite columns. We have found and described two perlite decay mechanisms: decay of the carbide plates by a path of their granulation due to dislocation slip and dissolution of cementite arising from the outflow of carbon atoms from the carbide phase into ferrite crystal lattice defects. We have described the phenomenon of morphological reconstruction of the cementite-phase particles (a transition from layers to spheres) under plastic deformation conditions.