Grain boundary segregation in a low alloy steel under tensile loading conditions

Abstract

The influence of tensile stress on the grain boundary segregation behaviour in a NiCrMoV steel is elucidated through the measurement of grain boundary segregation isotherms and the determination of interaction processes amongst trace and alloying elements. The application of tensile stress accelerates and enhances the grain boundary coverage of elements P, N and S presumably through a stress-induced-diffusion process. The qualitative nature of the interaction processes which are operative in the absence of any applied stress remain unaltered on the application of the tensile stress. However, there is an enhancement of the interaction processes, in the presence of the applied stress; site-competitive, P + S, interaction process is particularly activated in the presence of a tensile stress.