RETAINED AUSTENITE STABILIZATION--IN CARBURIZED SAE 8620 ALLOY STEEL

摘要

The phenomenon of retained austenite stabilization in tool steels is well documented!1*2!. When a steel with a martensite finish temperature (M_f) below room temperature is quenched, some austenite is retained in the microstruc-ture. If cooling is immediately continued to a temperature below the M_f, virtually all the austenite present at room temperature can be transformed to martensite. However, if there is a delay between quenching to room temperature and the further cooling, the austenite can stabilize and cannot then be transformed by subsequent cooling.