Papers by Keyword: Fe-C Martensite

Abstract: Deformation behavior in the vicinity of grain boundary in Fe-0.4wt%C tempered martensitic steel were studied through in-situ nanoindentation in a TEM. Two types of boundaries were imaged in the dislocated martensitic structure: a low-angle lath boundary and a high-angle block boundary. In the case of a low-angle grain boundary, the dislocations induced by the indenter piled up against the boundary. As the indenter penetrated further, a critical stress appears to have been reached and a high density of dislocations was suddenly emitted on the far side of the grain boundary into the adjacent grain. In the case of the high-angle grain boundary, the numerous dislocations that were produced by the indentation were simply absorbed into the boundary, with no indication of pile-up or the transmission of strain.

Abstract: Nanoindentation measurements were performed for Fe-C based martensitic steels, and then the strengthening factors such as grain boundary effect were evaluated. Nanohardness of the matrix of the martensite is lower than that expected from macroscopic hardness, indicating that the grain boundary effect is significant for the macroscopic strength of the Fe-C martensite. A remarkable decrease of the grain boundary effect was found at the tempering temperature of 673 K, which is due to a disappearance of film-like carbides on grain boundaries. These results will be discussed in light of the interpretations of grain boundary strengthening.