Abstract: An Fe-0.2C-1.5Si-1.67Mn steel was subjected to quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process, and the interface migration between martensite and austenite at an elevated partitioning temperature was observed. The interface migration is excluded in constrained paraequilibrium (CPE) model. Based on “endpoint” predicted by CPE model the thermodynamic condition of interface migration is analyzed, that is, the difference in the chemical potential of iron in both ferrite (martenisite) and austenite produces the driving force of the iron atoms to migrate from one phase to the other phase. In addition, the interface migration can change the austenite fraction; as a result, the austenite fraction at partitioning temperature may be higher than that at quenching temperature through the interface migration, but this phenomenon cannot be explained by CPE model.

Key words: Quenching and partitioning (Q&P), Constrained paraequilibrium (CPE), Martensite...