Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The tempering of iron-nitrogen martensite; Dilatometric and calorimetric analysis

  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aging behavior of iron-nitrogen martensitic alloys (0.8 to 7.0 at. pct N) between -190 °C and 450 °C was investigated by quantitative analysis of the corresponding changes in volume and enthalpy. Martensitic specimens were prepared by gaseous nitriding of pure iron in a mixture of NH3 and H2 and subsequent quenching in brine and liquid nitrogen. Both X-ray diffraction analysis and metallography (light microscopical analysis and microhardness measurement) were used for interpretation of the structural changes. Analysis of the transformation kinetics was achieved by employing a range of heating rates. At least five different stages of structural change could be distinguished, which were quantitatively analyzed in terms of their effects on volume and enthalpy: (1) transformation of retained austenite into martensite (between-160 °C and -40 °C); (2) segregation and “ordering” of nitrogen atoms (below 100 °C); (3) precipitation of incoherent α′ nitride (between 100 °C and 220 °C); (4) conversion of α′ nitride into γ′ nitride (between 220 °C and 290 °C); and (5) decomposition of retained austenite (between 240 °C and 350 °C). Differences with the tempering behavior of analogous iron-carbon martensites were discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G.B. Olson and M. Cohen:Metall. Trans. A, 1983, vol. 14A, pp. 1057–65.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A.M. Sherman, G.T. Eldis, and M. Cohen:Metall. Trans. A, 1983, vol. 14A, pp. 995–1005.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Liu Cheng, C.M. Brakman, B.M. Korevaar, and E.J. Mittemeijer:Metall. Trans. A, 1988, vol. 19A, pp. 2415–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. K.H. Jack:Proc. R. Soc., 1951, vol. A208, pp. 216–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. van Gent, F.C. van Doorn, and E.J. Mittemeijer:Metall. Trans. A, 1985, vol. 16A, pp. 1371–84.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R.D. Garwood and G. Thomas:Metall. Trans., 1973, vol. 4, pp. 225–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. T. Bell and D. Brough:Met. Sci. J., 1970, vol. 4, pp. 171–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Kaplow, M. Ron, and N. Decristofaro:Metall. Trans. A, 1983, vol. 14A, pp. 1135–45.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. E.J. Mittemeijer, M. van Rooijen, I. Wierszllowski, H.C.F. Rozendaal, and P.F. Colijn:Z. Metallkd., 1983, vol. 74, pp. 474–83.

    Google Scholar 

  10. C.F. Jatczak, J.A. Larson, and S.W. Shiu:Retained Austenite and Its Measurement by X-Ray Diffraction, SP453, SAE, Inc., Warrendale, PA, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Liu Cheng, N.M. van der Pers, Th.H. de Keijser, and E.J. Mittemeijer: Laboratory of Metallurgy, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, unpublished research, 1989.

  12. P.C. Chen, B.O. Hall, and P.G. Winchell:Metall. Trans. A, 1980, vol. 11A, pp. 1323–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Liu Cheng, I. Stark, B.M. Korevaar, E.J. Mittemeijer, and G.D.W. Smith:Proc. Int. Conf. on High Nitrogen Steels, J. Foct and A. Hendry, eds., Lille, France, The Institute of Metals, London, 1988, pp. 97–101.

    Google Scholar 

  14. M.A.J. Somers, N.M. van der Pers, D. Schalkoord, and E.J. Mittemeijer:Metall. Trans. A, 1989, vol. 20A, pp. 1533–39.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. E.J. Mittemeijer, Liu Cheng, P.J. van der Schaaf, C.M. Brakman, and B.M. Korevaar:Metall. Trans. A, 1988, vol. 19A, pp. 925–32.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Bell:JISI, 1968, vol. 206, pp. 1017–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. M.A.J. Somers, R.M. Lankreijer, and E.J. Mittemeijer:Phil. Mag., 1989, vol. 59, pp. 353–78.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. J.D. Fast and M.B. Verrijp:JISI, 1955, vol. 180, pp. 337–43.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. P. Ferguson and K.H. Jack:Proc. Heat Treatment ’81, The Metals Society, London, 1983, pp. 156–63.

    Google Scholar 

  20. M. Cohen:Trans. Jpn. Inst. Met., 1970, vol. 11, pp. 145–57.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Z. Przylecki and L. Maldzinski:Proc. 4th Int. Conf. on Carbides, Nitrides, and Borides, Technical University, Poznan, Kołobrzeg, Poland, 1987, pp. 153–62.

    Google Scholar 

  22. C.S. Roberts:Trans. AIME, 1953, vol. 197, pp. 203–04.

    Google Scholar 

  23. M. van Rooyen and E.J. Mittemeijer:Metall. Trans. A, 1989, vol. 20A, pp. 1207–14.

    Google Scholar 

  24. B. Lee, S. Millman, I.L. MacDougall, S.R. Keown, and B.B. Argent:Met. Sci., 1977, vol. 11, pp. 261–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. F.S. Buffington, K. Hirano, and M. Cohen:Acta Metall., 1961, vol. 9, pp. 434–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. H. Bester and K.W. Lange:Arch. Eisenhüttenwes, 1972, vol. 43, pp. 207–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. C. Wells, W. Batz, and R.F. Mehl:Trans. AIME, 1950, vol. 188, pp. 533–60.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Metallurgy, Delft University of Technology, Rotterdamseweg 137, 2628, AL Delft, The Netherlands

    Liu Cheng (Graduate Student) & E. J. Mittemeijer (Professor)

Authors
  1. Liu Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. J. Mittemeijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cheng, L., Mittemeijer, E.J. The tempering of iron-nitrogen martensite; Dilatometric and calorimetric analysis. Metall Trans A 21, 13–26 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02656420

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02656420

Keywords

Search

Navigation