Effect of dislocation configuration on non-equilibrium boron segregation during cooling

Different densities and configurations of crystal defects were obtained in an austenitic Fe-30%Ni alloy and an ultra low carbon bainitic (ULCB) alloy by undergoing different deformations and annealing treatments at high temperatures. Boron segregation on grain boundaries and subgrain boundaries during air-cooling were revealed by means of the particle tracking autoradiography technique. It is found that non-equilibrium segregation is resisted indeformed grains after recovery and polygonization, boron-depleted zones seem to be quite clear inrecrystallized grains than those in deformed original grains during cooling. Subgrain boundaries andpolygonized dislocation cells have a significant effect on non-equilibrium boron segregation duringthe air-cooling. The results implicates that dislocation configuration is a more important factor affecting boron segregation at grain boundaries rather that the density of defects itself in thegrain.