Diffusionless Transformations

and Martensite
Chapter 17,19 Reed-Hill
Mitra L Taheri

Quenching
Very important industrial process is the
hardening of steel by quenching (what you are
testing in your lab).
If the quench is rapid enough from the
austenitic field, then there isnt enough time
for the eutectoidal diffusion-controlled
process (decomposition) to occur, and the
steel transforms to martensite (or sometimes
mainly martensite and some austenite).

Quenching Fluid and Style

Dependence of quench on oil, water, agitation
As we discussed in class last time, water vs. oil
yields different resulting microstructures (onset
of martensite)
Decrease in bubbles on the surface increases
cooling rate (surface area covered by cooling
liquid)moving the sample within the cooling
liquid will accomplish this, and is called agitation.
See section on Jominy End Quench (p.610-612,
Reed Hill).

 Carbon and alloy steels are Martensitic hardened by heating to the Austenitizing
temperature followed by cooling at the appropriate rate.
Ms is when the Martensite transformation starts. Mf is transformation finishes.
The maximum hardness of carbon and alloy steels, after rapid quenching to avoid
the nose of the isothermal transformation curve, is a dependent on the alloy content,
predominantly the carbon content. The maximum thickness for complete hardening
or the depth to which an alloy will harden is measure of a steels hardenability.

Keep in mind!
Martensite in steel is not the only
martensitic transformation
Any diffusionless transformation (occurring
because cooling/heating rate is rapid enough
to avoid any diffusion-controlled process)
Can occur in other metals
Military, not civilian (see intro to lab 3 that I
gave you).

The DTEM has measured the martensitic transformation

kinetics in nanocrystalline Ti with ns resolution
30 ns Snap Shot

BCC, Difference Pattern

Phase Fraction

HCP, RT

1900114K

1800108K

1700102K

157595K

145087K

140084K

130078K

120072K

Time, ns

DTEM studies combined with

modeling has enhanced our
understanding of nucleation
behavior in these materials
See T. LaGrange, et al., Acta
Materialia, 55 [15] 5211 (2007)

Martensitic Transformations
Stainless steels
Quenched and tempered steels
Ball-bearing steels
Maraging steels (precipitation
hardened)
TRIP (transformation induced by plastic
deformation) steels
Ausforming steels (plastically deformed
austenite prior to quenching)
Dual phase steels (mix of ferrite and
martensite gotten by quenching in the
gamma + alpha phase field)

Morphology
Forms in the shape of a lens or plate
Plate size independent of austenite grain
size, and / interface is coherent
Formation speed=10^-7 seconds!

Formation Details
Plates start forming at Temp= Ms (martensite
start)see figure 6.1a in P&E
Ms is associated with a driving force for the
diffusionless transformation of :
G=H[(T0-Ms)/T0]
Ms decreases as Carbon content increases
Temp= Mf = martensite finishcooling below
this temp will not increase the amount of
martensite

Carbon Interstitial Sites

Carbon atoms are
inherited from the
austenite, but the
tetragonality of cell is
greatly reduced
(compared to bodycentered tetragonal
austenite)
Causes strain associated
with number of carbon
atoms
See figure 19.13 and 19.14
in Reed-Hill

Martensite Crystallography
The Habit Plane: plane common to austenite
and martensite:
Kurdjumov-Sachs relationship
others

Seen as macroscopically undistorted

The Bain Distortion

FCCBCT (body
centered
tetragonal)
movement of
FCC to BCC with
minimal atomic
movements.

Schematic