THERMODYNAMICS OF CERIUM CARBIDE Fe_4Ce_4C_7 IN STEEL

The thermodynamics and the properties of the cerium carbide Fe4 Ce4 C7 in steel have been studied by means of metallography, electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction technique and electrolytic separation. The main results obtained can be summarized as follows: The cerium carbide CeC2 can be precipitated in cast steel and distributed along the grain boundaries. Heat treating the steel as austenite, the CeC2 transformed into ternary compound Fe4Ce4 C7, its thermodynamics of formation in steel being expressed as: ac exp(6400/T-6. 28), where 1015K