As is well known, quenched carbon steel changes in three stages on heating it with rising temperature. In the present work, in order to make a contribution to its interpretation, volume changes during these stages are calculated using the lattice parameters as measured by X-rays, and they are compared with those obtained from its dilatometer curve, and thereby the following conclusions are reached:—
(1) The first stage product is ε-iron carbide, the composition of which is nearer to Fe
3C than Fe
2C.
(2) During the second stage, the carbide becomes to have the composition near Fe
2C. For the modification of the formed carbide, however, the dilatometer curve cannot decide which is better, ε or χ. The same is the case with the carbide in the decomposition product from retained austenite.
(3) The large contraction during the third stage is due to the change of the ε- or χ-carbide into cementite.
Finally, consideration is given to the lattice relationship between the ε-carbide formed during the first stage and the martensite matrix (α′), under the assumption that in the neighbourhood of the carbon atom, the state of martensite lattice is similar to that of ε-carbide. And the following conclusion is reached:—
Angle between α′(101) and ε(0001)=θ, α′[010]\varparallelε[11\bar20],
\
oindentwhere θ takes a value from 9.7° to 7.6° as the carbon content of martensite increases from 0 to 1.7%.
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