Abstract: The development of non-equilibrium segregation of boron at grain boundaries in Fe-40%Ni alloy during continuous cooling process was experimentally observed with boronParticle Tracking Autoradiography (PTA) and Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM). The samples with 10ppm boron were cooled at 2℃/s to 1040, 980, 920,860, 780 and 640℃ respectively after pre-heat treatment of 1150℃ for 15min witha Gleeble-1500 heat simulating machine, then water quenched to room temperature.The width of segregation layer and boron depletion zone, rich factor and other pc-rameters were measured by a special image analysis system. The experimental resultsof PTA show that the grain boundary segregation of boron during cooling process is adynamic process and the development of the non-equilibrium segregation experiencesthree stages: first increases rapidly from 1150 to 1040℃, then gently from 1040 to860℃, and rapidly again from 860℃ to 640℃. The width of boron depletion zoneincreases from about 11μm at 1040℃ to 26μm at 640℃. TEM observation showsthat boron precipitates exist at grain boundaries when the samples are cooled to below860℃. The experimental phenomena are briefly discussed.

Key words: boron, grain boundary, non-equilibrium segregation