`martensite` Related Article Results

Martensite is a very hard microstructural component formed in iron-carbon alloys (particularly steels) through a diffusionless phase transformation. Formation Mechanism The martensitic phase forms when steel is cooled extremely rapidly—for example, by quenching in water. Under normal slow cooling conditions, carbon atoms in the austenite structure diffuse out and form iron carbide (Fe₃C, or cementite). However, when cooling is too rapid, the carbon atoms cannot move and become “trapped” in place