Crystallographic variant selection of martensite at high stress/strain

The phenomenological theory of martensitic transformation is well understood that the displacive phase transformations are mainly influenced by the externally applied stress. Martensitic transformation occurs with 24 possible Kurdjomov-Sachs (K-S) variants, where each variant shows a distinct lattice orientation. The elegant transformation texture model of Kundu and Bhadeshia for crystallographic variant selection of martensite in metastable austenite at various stress/strain levels has been assessed in this present research. The corresponding interaction energies have also been evaluated. Encouraging correlation between model prediction and experimental data generation for martensite pole figures at many deformed austenite grains has been observed at different stress/strain levels. It has been investigated that the mechanical driving force alone is able to explain the observed martensite microtextures at all stress/strain levels under uniaxial tensile deformation of metastable austenite under low temperature at a slow strain rate. The present investigation also proves that the Patel and Cohen’s classical theory can be utilized to predict the crystallographic variant selection, if it is correctly used along with the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography.     

Free energies of austenite and martensite Fe–C alloys: an atomistic study

We investigate the influence of C interstitials on the phase stability of Fe–C crystals. We employ the Meyer–Entel interatomic interaction potential which is able to reproduce the austenite-martensite phase transition for pure Fe, and supplement it by a simple pairwise Fe–C interaction potential. Using two different thermodynamic methods, we calculate the free energies of the martensite and austenite phases. We find that C destabilizes the ground-state bcc phase. The decrease in the equilibrium transformation temperature with increasing C content parallels the one found in the experiment. This destabilization is found even if C is added for a potential in which only the bcc phase is stable until the melting point; here, for sufficiently high C addition, a stable fcc phase is established in the phase diagram.     

Decomposition of Iron-based Martensite. A kinetic analysis by means of differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometry

The decomposition processes of a carburised Fe–C alloy, a Fe–C, a Fe–Cr–C and commercial SAE 52100 cast alloys (with a C content of about 1 mass%) have been studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometry. The combination of these two experimental techniques is very powerful and allows the identification of all the stages occurring during tempering. Activation energies have been obtained by performing a Kissinger-like analysis and were used to infer the rate-determining step for each stage of decomposition. This parallel investigation allowed to determine the effect of the alloying elements on the different stages of tempering. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microstructural modeling of crack nucleation and propagation in high strength martensitic steels

A dislocation-density based multiple-slip crystalline plasticity formulation, a dislocation-density grain boundary (GB) interaction scheme, and an overlapping fracture method were used to investigate crack nucleation and propagation in martensitic steel with retained austenite for both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. The formulation accounts for variant morphologies, orientation relationships, and retained austenite that are uniquely inherent to lath martensitic microstructures. The interrelated effects of dislocation-density evolution ahead of crack front and the variant distribution of martensitic blocks on crack nucleation and propagation are investigated. It is shown that dislocation-density generation ahead of crack front can induce dislocation-density accumulations and plastic deformation that can blunt crack propagation. These predictions indicate that variant distribution of martensitic blocks can be optimized to mitigate and potentially inhibit material failure.     

A study on graphitisation acceleration during annealing of martensitic hypereutectoid steel

In this experimental study, the influence of primary martensitic structure on acceleration of graphitisation process in hypereutectoid steels during subsequent heat treatment cycle was investigated by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Then, the results have been compared with prior pearlitic and spheroidized structures. Dilatometric experimental results demonstrated the following graphitisation process from Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation for steels with a prior martensitic structure. The Avrami exponent was determined about 1.4 that indicates a diffusion-controlled nucleation and growth mechanism in this kind of phase transformation.     

Retained Austenite Phase in (26.5%Cr, 2.6%C) White Cast Iron Studied by Means of CEMS and Eddy Current

High chrome white irons are specifically employed in the mining industry for their resistance to wear. More cost-effective materials are constantly being sought, due to the high wear rate of the drilling components, which is a high cost area for this industry. Optimum resistance to wear is often not the main criterion of material selection but parameters such as ease of fabrication; availability and low initial cost have also to be accounted for. A correctly heat-treated high chrome white iron of a right chemical composition presents the best hardness and toughness combination [1]. A (26.5 wt.% Cr, 2.6 wt.% C) white iron has been produced by casting and heat-treating. As the retained austenite phase has the ability to harden, the control of its content may result in tuning the applications of this material. Various heat-treatments were given to the above-mentioned material to achieve a spread of austenite values. The retained austenite phase amount was measured by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Conversion Electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) and Eddy current techniques. A linear correlation between results from Eddy Current and CEMS, Eddy-current and XRD, and between those from CEMS and XRD was observed. As the nominal abundance values were technique dependent, their conversion will be discussed. The present study results in the calibration of the Eddy current apparatus and suggests its application in the casting industry during mass production for the retained austenite content determination in high chrome white iron castings.     

Fe-Mn合金中ε-马氏体的电子结构和磁性特性

利用原子簇模型和自旋极化离散变分法(DV-Xα),对Fe-Mn合金中ε -马氏体的电子结构和自旋磁矩进行了计算,结果与实验相符;并讨论了原子间距对磁矩 、局域态密度和Fermi能级的影响。     

单向拉伸镍钛合金带从奥氏体到马氏体的相变分析

单向拉伸镍钛合金带中从奥氏体到马氏体的相变已在实验中观测到,并被看作为局部变形进行了数值模拟．该文采用相变理论对其进行分析,考虑了两相界面处变形梯度的跳跃以及Maxwell关系,导出了相变的控制方程．相变分析归结为寻求载荷的最小值,使在该值下控制方程具有唯一的、物理上可以接受的实数解．控制方程被数值求解,证明了该唯一解确实存在．相变的Maxwell 应力,马氏体相与奥氏体相内的应力与应变,以及相边界的倾角都可求出,并与实验所观测到的结果相吻合．     

Experimental investigation on martensitic transformation and fracture morphologies of austenitic stainless steel

Formation and nucleation mechanisms (i.e. γ → ε, γ → α′, γ → deformation twins → ε → α′ and γ → ε → α′) of deformation- induced martensite (DIM) have been studied through analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after tensile deformation of AISI 304LN stainless steel at various strain rates (SR) at room temperature (RT). Quantitative metallography has been employed extensively to assess martensitic transformation (MT) as function of strain and SR. It has been observed that the enhancement of SR during tensile deformation promotes the early formation of DIM, while suppressing its saturation value at fracture. Fracture surface morphologies and dimple geometries (i.e. dimple density, dimple diameter and dimple size distribution) have been quantified through image processing (IP) of tensile fractographs. It is noted that at lower SR, dimple density is high while dimple diameter is smaller, and vice versa. Concomitantly, the strength is noted to be low and ductility is high at lower SR, and vice versa. DIM has been found to be responsible for high dimple density at low SR. At high SR, MT is suppressed and hence low dimple density. The variation in SR dependent MT accounts for the variation in dimple metrics vis-à-vis tensile properties.     

Thermal stability and high-temperature shape memory characteristics of Ti–20Zr–10Ta alloy

The microstructure, martensite transformation behavior, thermal stability and shape memory behavior of Ti–20Zr– 10Ta high temperature shape memory alloy were investigated. The Ti–20Zr–10Ta alloy exhibited a reversible transformation with the high martensite transformation temperature of 500oC and good thermal stability. The alloy displayed the elongation of 15% and a maximum recovery stain of 5.5% with 8% pre-strain.