Analysis of the carbide precipitation and microstructural evolution in HCCI as a function of the heating rate and destabilization temperature.

Microstructural modification of high chromium cast irons (HCCI) through the precipitation of secondary carbides (SC) during destabilization treatments is essential for improving their tribological response. However, there is not a clear consensus about the first stages of the SC precipitation and how both the heating rate (HR) and destabilization temperature can affect the nucleation and growth of SC. The present work shows the microstructural evolution, with a special focus on the SC precipitation, in a HCCI (26 wt% Cr) during heating up to 800, 900, and 980 °C.