Deformation-Induced Martensite: A New Paradigm for Exceptional Steels

Martensite in Steels

The name martensite is after the German scientist Martens. It was used originally to describe the hard microconstituent found in quenched steels. Martensite remains of the greatest technological importance in steels where it can confer an outstanding combination of strength (> 3500MPa) and toughness (> 200MPam 1 2 ). Many materials other than steel are now known to exhibit the same type of soli...

Color metallography; a suitable method for characterization of martensite and bainite in multiphase steels

Color metallography is a useful method for characterizing microstructures of steels with multiple phases. In this paper, application of three different color etching techniques for a bainitic-martensitic steel is reported. Comparisons between the results showed that 10% Na2S2O5 aqueous solution was the best etchant for distinguishing martensite, bainite and ferr...

The Silicon Effect in the Tempering of Martensite in Steels

High-silicon steels have long been known to possess exceptional resistance to tempering, but the reasons for this effect were unknown. We report here a study of the third stage of tempering of these steels, in which cementite is formed. In a 0.75 wt% C 1.4 wt% Si alloy steel, tempered for 1 hour at 380°C, it is found that silicon atoms are rejected from the growing cementite into the ferrite ma...

Analysis of deformation induced martensitic transformation in stainless steels

Many studies monitoring the formation of martensite during the tensile deformation of austenite report data which are, in principle, affected by both the applied stress and the resulting plastic strain. It is not clear in these circumstances whether the transformation is stress induced (i.e. the stress provides a mechanical driving force) or whether the generation of defects during deformation ...

Recrystallization Behavior During Warm Compression of Martensite Steels