Abstract
A metallurgical model for the prediction of prior austenite grain size considering the dissolution kinetics of M$_3$C precipitates at the heat affected zone of SA508-cl.3 was proposed. The isothermal kinetics of grain growth and dissolution were respectively described by well-known equation, $dD/dT=M({\Delta}F_{eff})^M$ and Whelan's analytical model. The isothermal grain growth experiments were carried out for measure the kinetic parameters of grain growth. The precipitates of the base metal and the specimens exposed to thermal cycle were examined by TEM-carbon extraction replica method. The model was assessed by the comparison of BUE simulation experiments and showed good consistencies. However, there was no difference between the model considering and ignoring $M_3C$ precipitates. It seems considered that pinning force exerted by $M_3C$ Precipitates was lower than driving force for grain growth due to large size and small fraction of precipitates, and mobility of grain boundary was low in the lower temperature range.
