Crystallographic analysis of the martensitic transformation in medium-carbon steel with packet martensite

Based on X-ray diffraction studies of the martensite texture in a single martensite packet, exact orientation relationships between the orientations of martensite crystallites and the original austenite single crystal in medium-carbon steel 37KhN3A have been determined to be as follows: (011)_α||(1; 0.990; 1.009)_γ to an accuracy of \( \pm 0.15^\circ ,{\left[ {01\overline 1 } \right]_\alpha }||{\left[ {1;1.163; - 2.133} \right]_\gamma }\) to an accuracy of ±0.15°. It has been shown that the orientation relationships proved to be almost the same as in the Fe–31% Ni alloy with a twinned martensite with close lattice parameters. Therefore, the conclusion has been drawn that the mechanism of the lattice deformation upon the martensitic transformation is the same in both alloys. It is described as follows. The lattice deformation occurs by shear on the (111) plane in the \({\left[ {11\overline 2 } \right]_{_\gamma }}\) direction and is accompanied by an additional change in the dimensions in the mutually perpendicular directions \({\left[ {11\overline 2 } \right]_{_\gamma }},\left[ {111} \right],\;and{\left[ {1\overline 1 0} \right]_{_\gamma }}\). The invariantlattice deformation is implemented by slip in martensite on the planes of the (112)_α type in the direction \({\left[ {\overline 1 \overline 1 1} \right]_\alpha }\). One of the 24 crystallographically equivalent variants of the transformation mechanism has been considered. Apart from this type of deformation, an additional deformation of martensite is possible that does not change its orientation. It has been shown that the orientation of the martensite crystallite calculated via the phenomenological theory of the martensitic transformations (PTMT) differs by approximately 1° from the experimentally determined orientation. This refers to both the lath and twinned martensite. In the twinned martensite, the invariant plane obtained in the PTMT calculations and the habit plane coincide. In lath martensite of 37KhN3A steel, the invariant plane of the martensite crystal obtained in PTMT calculations deviates by ~25° from the orientation of the surface of the martensite plate (habit plane), which is close to the (111)_γ plane. An explanation of this phenomenon is given.