Retained austenite and tempered martensite embrittlement

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Metall. Trans., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02646396· OSTI ID:6517998

Thomas, G

The problems of detecting the distribution of small amounts (5% or less) of retained austenite films around the martensite in quenched and tempered experimental medium carbon Fe/C/X steels are discussed and electron optical methods of analysis are emphasized. These retained austenite films if stable seem to be beneficial to fracture toughness. It has been found that thermal instability of retained austenite in tempering produces an embrittlement due to its decomposition to interlath films of M/sub 3/C carbides. The fractures are thus intergranular with respect to martensite but transgranular with respect to the prior austenite. The temperature at which this occurs depends upon alloy content. The effect is not found in Fe/Mo/C for which no retained austenite is detected after quenching, but is present in all other alloys investigated.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 6517998
• Journal Information: Metall. Trans., A; (United States), Journal Name: Metall. Trans., A; (United States) Vol. 9:3; ISSN MTTAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
AUSTENITE
CARBON ADDITIONS
CARBON STEELS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
EMBRITTLEMENT
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
GRAIN SIZE
HEAT TREATMENTS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MARTENSITE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
QUENCHING
SIZE
STABILITY
STEELS
TEMPERING
TENSILE PROPERTIES