Theory 023/Materials Processing
Distortion Is Hold Time
The claim
Heat-treatment distortion is set by austenitizing hold time rather than by peak temperature, because grain growth during the hold redistributes transformation strain.
01The mechanism
Longer holds coarsen grains, and coarse grains transform inhomogeneously, concentrating strain into distortion.
02Predictions
- P1Distortion should rise with hold time.
- P2Peak temperature at fixed hold should matter less.
03Refutation
Distortion tracking peak temperature would remove the time mechanism.