Recrystallization after Plastic Deformation-Grain Growth Phenomena in Metals-On Grain Growth

ZAY JEFFRIES (communication to the Secretary*).-Having seen Mr. Ruder's micrographs of electrolytic iron, I am of the opinion that the tentative explanation offered verbally is correct. Mr. Ruder has informed me that both of the samples were cooled in the furnace. The structures as shown in Figs. Band C resulted from the last cooling through the temperature range near 900° C. Assuming that the rate of cooling through this range was the same in both cases, the differences in struc-ture of the gamma iron in the two samples must have ]:)]-ought about, in some way, the variations in grain size and grain shape shown in Mr. Ruder's micrographs. Even though there is practically no temperature gradient in muffle-furnace treatment during the "soaking" period, during both heating and cooling, there is a temperature gradient. Fig. B should normally have been fine-grained prior to the last cooling, due to the comparatively low maximum temperature to which it was heated (1,000° C.). On cooling through the allotropic change point at 900°, these small gamma grains, iii conjunction with the temperature gradient, should form an ideal condition for germination. Germinant grains should form near the surface of the sample (the-colder portions) and the small gamma grains would be progressively absorbed as they changed into non-gamma iron. The elongated grains in Fig. B, converging toward the axis of the piece of iron, indicate that germinant grains first formed near tine surface and advanced their boundaries toward the interior of the sample. The gamma grains in Fig. C, however, should have been large, prior to the last cooling, due to time high temperature treatment (1,250 to 1,300° C.). In other words, to use one of Prof. Howe's expressions, the crystalline organization should be very complete and the change from gamma to non-gamma iron on cooling would take place reluctantly. This resistance to change from gamma to non-gamma iron would probably be greater in the interior of the large grains than at their boundaries. Non-gamma iron centers or nuclei would probably form at a great many places, at the grain boundaries, thus masking the influence, to a large