Activation Energy for Recrystallization in Fe-3wt.%Si Alloys with Different S Contents

The recrystallization behaviors of 60% rolled Fe-wt.3%Si and Fe- wt.3%Si-Mn-S alloys containing coarsen MnS particles were observed in temperature range 600°C~1000°C. The activation energy for recrystallization was determined according to an Arrhenius type of relationship. It was found that the activation energy in the temperature range 600°C~750°C was much higher than that in the temperature range 850°C~1000°C. Thermo-mechanical calculation indicates that there are hardly precipitation behaviors of MnS particles in 600°C~1000°C. Fe3C will precipitate below 650°C and Cottrell atmosphere will form just above 650°C, which induces dragging effect against the boundary migration during recrystallization and increase the activation energy. The activation energy determined was about 99kJ/mol or 217kJ/mol in Fe-3%Si alloy and 91kJ/mol or 220kJ/mol in Fe-3%Si-Mn-S alloy for the recrystallization in high temperature range of 850°C~1000°C or low temperature range of 600°C~750°C respectively.