Effects of a High Magnetic Field on Bainitic and Martensitic Transformations in Steels

Abstract

Effects of magnetic fields on transformation temperature, transformation behavior and transformed structure have been investigated for bainitic transformation in an Fe-3.6Ni-1.45Cr-0.5C steel and for transformation to lath martensite in 18Ni maraging steel. Bs temperature was determined by observing the transformed structure and Ms temperature was measured from the cooling curve of the specimen. It was found that both Bs and Ms temperatures increase with increasing applied magnetic field. Bainitic transformation behavior is accelerated by the applied magnetic field. Elongated and aligned structures were observed for austenite to ferrite transformation in an Fe-0.4C alloy, but no elongation or alignment of transformed structure has been observed for transformations to bainite and lath martensite.