Microstructural modifcation of high chromium cast irons (HCCI) through the precipitation of
secondary carbides (SC) during destabilization treatments is essential for improving their tribological
response. However, there is not a clear consensus about the frst stages of the SC precipitation
and how both the heating rate (HR) and destabilization temperature can afect the nucleation and
growth of SC. The present work shows the microstructural evolution, with a special focus on the SC
precipitation, in a HCCI (26 wt% Cr) during heating up to 800, 900, and 980 °C. It was seen that the HR
is the most dominant factor infuencing the SC precipitation as well as the matrix transformation in
the studied experimental conditions. Finally, this work reports for frst time in a systematic manner,
the precipitation of SC during heating of the HCCI, providing a further understanding on the early
stages of the SC precipitation and the associated microstructural modifcations