Evolution of non-

equilibrium microstructure
Initial microstructure is austenite and the lines
showing network is austenite grain boundary
Displacive
transformation
Restructuring of
General characteristics of displacive
transformation generating non-equilibrium
 lattice
by diffusion
microstructure in steels
• Phase transformation occurs at lower
temperature where diffusion is very slow
Restructuring of
• Phase transformation proceeds very lattice
quickly by lattice
deformation
• Redistribution does not occur for
: carbon
substitutional alloying element (bainite) supersaturated
2 BCC
or for all elements (martensite) / BCT
 Martensite has a characteristic hierarchical structure
Characteristics of • Packet – Block – Lath
• Typical width of lath is ~ 0.2m and lath boundary is low angle
microstructure boundary
• Block and packet have high angle boundary. The sizes of block or
packet generally control the strength and toughness of martensite
Packet
boundary

Block
boundary

Prior-austenite lath
grain boundary
Characteristics of
morphology
• Martensite transformation makes roughness in a free surface
implication on the occurrence of deformation for lattice restructuring  shape deformation
• Observed shape deformation is invariant-plane strain

 

 

habit plane habit plane

(austenite) (martensite)