Consideration of the martensitic nucleation process as a sequence of steps which take the particle from maximum to minimum coherency leads to the hypothesis that the first step in martensitic nucleation is faulting on planes of closest packing. It is further postulated that the faulting displacements are derived from an existing defect, while matrix constraints cause all subsequent processes to occur in such a way as to leave the fault plane unrotated, thus accounting for the observed general orientation relations. Using basic concepts of classical nucleation theory, the stacking fault energy is shown to consist of both volume energy and surface energy contributions. When the volume energy contribution is negative, the fault energy decreases with increasing fault thickness such that the fault energy associated with the simultaneous dissociation of an appropriate group of dislocations (e.g. a finite tilt boundary segment) can be zero or negative. This condition leads to the spontaneous formation of a martensitic embryo. For the specific case of the fcc → hcp martensitic transformation in Fe-Cr-Ni alloys, the defect necessary to account for spontaneous embryo formation at the observedM
 s temperatures may consist of four or five properly spaced lattice dislocations. Such defects are considered to be consistent with the known sparseness of initial martensitic nucleation sites.

A general mechanism of martensitic nucleation: Part I. General concepts and the FCC → HCP transformation

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2FBF02667204.pdf

The Fe-Ni (iron-nickel) system

An investigation on the formation of α″ martensite and its influence on Young’s modulus and mechanical properties of forged Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr (wt pct) alloy is reported in this article. For ice-water-quenched specimens after solution treatment at 1023, 1123, and 1223 K in the single β-phase field for 1.8, 3.6, 14.4, and 28.8 ks, X-ray diffraction and internal friction measurements showed that the volume fraction of the α″ martensite changes with both solution temperature and time. This effect has been attributed mainly to the influence of grain size of the β-parent phase on the stability of the β phase and, consequently, on the martensitic start (Ms) temperature. A critical grain size of 40 µm was identified for the β phase, below which the martensitic transformation is largely suppressed because of low MS temperature. With the β grain size increasing above this critical value, the volume fraction of the α″ martensite increases significantly at first and then decreases gradually with further grain growth. The α″ martensite was shown to possess good ductility and, compared to the β phase, lower strength and hardness but nearly identical Young’s modulus in the studied alloy.

Young’s modulus and mechanical properties of Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr in relation to α″ martensite

http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/34328/1/Scripta_2008_Garcia_Junceda.pdf

Dependence of martensite start temperature on fine austenite grain size

In the present paper, the effects of process parameters on phase transformations during non-isothermal deformations are described and discussed. Non-isothermal high temperature compressive deformations were conducted on 22MnB5 boron steel by using deformation dilatometry. Cylindrical samples were uniaxially deformed at different strain rates ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 s −1 to a maximum compressive strain of 50%. Qualitative and quantitative investigations were carried out using surface hardness mapping data as well as dilatation curves. It was observed that a higher initial deformation temperatures resulted in a higher martensite fraction of the microstructure, while a variation in the martensite start temperature was negligible. Another conclusion was that by applying larger amounts of strain as well as higher force levels, not only the martensite start temperature, but also the amount of martensite was reduced. Moreover, it was concluded that using surface hardness mapping technique and dilatometry experiments were very reliable methods to quantify and qualify the coexisting phases.

The effects of non-isothermal deformation on martensitic transformation in 22MnB5 steel

The effects of austenitizing conditions on the kinetics at the start of martensite formation in Fe-31Ni and Fe-31 Ni-0.28C alloys have been studied using electrical-resistance measurements during cooling of the specimens to follow the course of the transformation. The primary object of the study was to decide whether or not a change in austenitizing temperature, in the absence of a change in austenite grain size, has any effect on the Ms temperature or the burst characteristics of athermal martensite. It is concluded that it does not, suggesting that the potential nuclei (embryos) of martensite are mechanically stable crystal defects. Another interesting observation is that when the austenite grain size is small, the Mb temperature increases with increasing grain size and the burst is always small. When the austenite grains are coarse, the Mb temperature is independent of the grain size and the burst is large. It is suggested that this phenomenon is a result of the elastic shear stress concentration being related to the size of the first martensite plate and, in turn, to the size of the austenite grain.

Effects of austenitizing temperature and austenite grain size on the formation of athermal martensite in an iron-nickel and an iron-nickel-carbon alloy

M. Umemoto

Papers

Effects of austenitizing temperature and austenite grain size on the formation of athermal martensite in an iron-nickel and an iron-nickel-carbon alloy