In-situ investigation of martensite formation in AISI 52100 bearing steel at sub-zero Celsius temperature

摘要

Martensite formation in AISI 52100 bearing steel at sub-zero Celsius temperature was investigated with Vibrating Sample Magnetometry. The investigation reports the stabilization of retained austenite in quenched samples during storage at room temperature and reveals the thermally activated nature of the martensitic transformation. The kinetics of the transformation is interpreted in terms of a-thermal nucleation and thermally activated growth of lenticular martensite.