Carbon distribution in the martensite structure of structural steel

Abstract

The martensite structure of a hardened pseudosingle crystal of grade 37KhN3A medium-carbon structural steel (0.37 wt % C, 1.50 Cr, 3.0 Ni, 0.33 Mn) had the form of coarse packets with dimensions of to 1 cm in the cross section. Every packet was composed of six-orientation martensite crystals arising on one common austenite plane of type {111}. The position of three texture maximums was determined using an X-ray diffractometer for every orientation. In addition, the position of four maximums of retained austenite was found. The periods of martensite lattices and retained austenite as well as the carbon concentration in martensite lattices and near the boundaries are determined.