Austenite films in bainitic microstructures

Abstract

Bainitic microstructures in which fine platelets of ferrite are intimately mixed with films of austenite are known to exhibit good combinations of strength and toughness. It isfound that the thickness of these austenite films can be estimated by assuming that the carbon diffusion field around an existing plate of ferrite prevents the close approach of another parallel plate. This is because the regions of austenite with the highest carbon concentration are unable to transform to bainite.MST/3052