The formation of austenite in a low-alloy steel

Austenite formation from different microstructural conditions has been studied in an Fe-lV-0.2C steel. The starting microstructures of ferrite, bainite, and martensite, and the morphology of austenite formation have been examined in detail by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Retained austenite in quenched martensitic areas has been used to establish the crystallographic relationships during austenite nucleation, and to indicate the behavior of the initial vanadium carbide dispersion present in the ferrite starting microstructure. Limited measurements were also made of the kinetics of austenitization. Formerly Research Student, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Cambridge. Formerly of Royal Society, Warren Research Fellow, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Cambridge.