7/4/12 Martensite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martensite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martensite, named after the German metallurgist Adolf Martens (1850–

1914), most commonly refers to a very hard form of steel crystalline
structure, but it can also refer to any crystal structure that is formed by
displacive transformation.[1] It includes a class of hard minerals occurring as
lath- or plate-shaped crystal grains. When viewed in cross-section, the
lenticular (lens-shaped) crystal grains appear acicular (needle-shaped),
which is how they are sometimes incorrectly described.

In the 1890s, Martens studied samples of different steels under a

microscope, and found that the hardest steels had a regular crystalline Martensite in AISI 4140 steel
structure.[1] He was the first to explain the cause of the widely differing
mechanical properties of steels. Martensitic structures have since been found
in many other practical materials, including shape memory alloys and
transformation-toughened ceramics.[1]

The martensite is formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of austenite which

traps carbon atoms that do not have time to diffuse out of the crystal
structure. This martensitic reaction begins during cooling when the austenite
reaches the martensite start temperature (Ms ) and the parent austenite
becomes mechanically unstable. At a constant temperature below Ms , a
fraction of the parent austenite transforms rapidly, then no further 0.35%C Steel, water-quenched
transformation will occur.[1] When the temperature is decreased, more of the from 870°C
austenite transforms to martensite. Finally, when the martensite finish
temperature (Mf) is reached, the transformation is complete. Martensite can also be formed by application of stress
(this property is frequently used in toughened ceramics like yttria-stabilized zirconia and in special steels like TRIP
steels (i.e. transformation induced plasticity steels)). Thus, Martensite can be thermally induced or stress induced.[1]

One of the differences between the two phases is that martensite has a body-centered tetragonal (BCT) crystal
structure, whereas austenite has a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. The transition between these two structures
requires very little thermal activation energy because it is a martensitic transformation, which results in the subtle but
rapid rearrangement of atomic positions, and has been known to occur even at cryogenic temperatures.[1]
Martensite has a lower density than austenite, so that the martensitic transformation results in a relative change of
volume.[2] Of considerably greater importance than the volume change is the shear strain which has a magnitude of
about 0.26 and which determines the shape of the plates of martensite.[3]

Martensite is not shown in the equilibrium phase diagram of the iron-carbon system because it is not an equilibrium
phase. Equilibrium phases form by slow cooling rates allowing sufficient time for diffusion, whereas martensite is
usually formed by fast cooling rates. Since chemical processes (the attainment of equilibrium) accelerate at higher
temperature, martensite is easily destroyed by the application of heat. This process is called tempering. In some
alloys, the effect is reduced by adding elements such as tungsten that interfere with cementite nucleation, but, more
often than not, the phenomenon is exploited instead. Since quenching can be difficult to control, many steels are
quenched to produce an overabundance of martensite, then tempered to gradually reduce its concentration until the
right structure for the intended application is achieved. Too much martensite leaves steel brittle, too little leaves it
soft.
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7/4/12 Martensite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See also
Eutectoid
Ferrite (iron)
Maraging steel
Spring steel
Tool steel

References
1. ^ a b c d e f Khan, Abdul Qadeer (March 1972) [1972], "3" (in German and English), The effect of morphology on
the strength of copper-based martensites,, 1, 1 (1 ed.), Leuven, Belgium: A.Q. Khan, University of Leuven,
Belgium, pp. 300
2. ^ Ashby, Michael F.; & David R. H. Jones (1992) [1986]. Engineering Materials 2 (with corrections ed.). Oxford:
Pergamon Press. ISBN 0-08-032532-7.
3. ^ Bhadeshia, H. K. D. H. (2001) [2001]. Geometry of Crystals (with corrections ed.). London: Institute of
Materials. ISBN ISBN 0-904357-94-5.

External links
Comprehensive resources on martensite (http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/phase-trans/2002/martensite.html) ,
from the University of Cambridge

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