Serial sectioning and 3D-reconstruction of ferrite allotriomorphs nucleated at grain boundary faces in an Fe-C-Mn alloy

Abstract

Three-dimensional morphology of ferrite allotriomorphs nucleated at grain boundary faces in an Fe-0.09%C-1.48%Mn alloy was revealed by means of serial sectioning in conjunction with computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction techniques. Ferrite allotriomorphs formed at grain boundary faces appeared to be oblate ellipsoids on usual two-dimensional planar sections. Three-dimensional reconstruction shows that they were large in one dimension, specifically in the depth direction of specimens in this study, some of them being approximately prolate ellipsoids rather than an equiaxed pancake shape as usually assumed. © 2008 ISIJ.