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The ε-phase in rapidly solidified ferrous alloys

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Abstract

An Fe-1.9 wt% Si-4.2 wt% C alloy has been rapidly quenched from the melt in a controlled-atmosphere “gun” splat-cooling device to produce material consisting predominantly of the hexagonal close-packedε-phase. The techniques of X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and differential thermal analysis have been used to study the nature of theε-phase and its decomposition during heat treatment. The presence of the metastableε-phase could not be accounted for as the transformation product of a low stacking-fault energy austenite, and it appears to be formed directly from the liquid state. It has a complex and variable microstructure, which ranges from elongated, relatively featureless grains in the most rapidly-cooled areas to highly-faulted and twinned structural units containing precipitate particles. Theε-phase undergoes a two-stage decomposition process upon heating, but the first stage does not appear to involve the formation of martensite andε-carbide, which has been the hitherto accepted reaction. As an alternative it is suggested that theε-phase may decompose by a spinodal reaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Manufacturing Technology, PO Box 4, 5011, Woodville, SA, Australia

    I. R. Sare

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Sare, I.R. The ε-phase in rapidly solidified ferrous alloys. J Mater Sci 16, 3470–3478 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586310

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586310

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