Using Kelvin probe force microscopy for controlling the phase composition of austenite–martensite chromium–nickel steel

Abstract

The effectiveness of Kelvin probe force microscopy, which is one of the scanning probe techniques, is demonstrated for assessing plastic-deformation induced changes in the phase composition of 08Kh21N6M2T austenite–martensite chromium–nickel steel. Changes in the numerical values of surface potentials of different phase components of two- and three-phase stainless steels versus sample deformation extent have been established. Dependence of surface electric potentials as measured with Kelvin probe force microscopy on the presence and amount of newly formed deformationmartensite phase has been discovered.