Transmission electron microscopy of dislocations in cementite deformed at high pressure and high temperature

Polycrystalline aggregates of cementite (Fe₃C) and (Fe,Ni)₃C have been synthesised at 10 GPa and 1250 °C in the multianvil apparatus. Further, deformation of the carbides by stress relaxation has been carried out at temperature of 1250 °C and for 8 h at the same pressure. Dislocations have been characterised by transmission electron microscopy. They are of the [1?0?0] and [0?0?1] type, [1?0?0] being the most frequent. [1?0?0] dislocations are dissociated and glide in the (0?1?0) plane. [0?0?1] dislocations glide in (1?0?0) and (0?1?0). Given the plastic anisotropy of cementite, the morphology of the lamellae in pearlitic steels appears to have a major role in the strengthening role played by this phase, since activation of easy slip systems is geometrically inhibited in most cases.