Liquidus and solidus temperatures and latent heats of melting of steels

Abstract

The paper deals with the study of latent heats of melting of three real steels (one low-alloyed steel and two chromium steels) and temperatures of liquidus, peritectic transformation and solidus of these steels. All quantities were obtained using the differential scanning calorimetry method (DSC). The Setaram MHTC (multi-high-temperature calorimeter) Line 96 device equipped with 3D DSC sensor was used for all experiments. Measurements were done in alumina crucibles under inert atmosphere of pure argon. Controlled heating and cooling of steel samples was conducted at the rate of 5 K min(-1). All investigated quantities were also calculated using the Thermo-Calc software package with the use of the Thermo-Calc Fe-based alloys (TCFE) database. Comparison and discussion of experimental and calculated data was performed, and very good agreement was observed. The largest difference between measured and calculated values was 18 J g(-1) for latent heat of melting and up to 2 A degrees C for all investigated temperatures of phase transformation, except for one temperature of peritectic transformation.