Transformation mechanism of deformation-induced compact martensite in Fe-Ni-C alloys

Compact deformation -induced martensite found in Fe -25Ni - 0.66C alloys has been studied by using optical, electron and scanning electron microscopy. The compact martensite consists of a large number of martensites with different variants connected closely to form large bulk in which almost no residual austenite remains. Its formation process is by further growth of thin plates to form lenticular plates and possible crossing and coalesence to form bulky martensite. These growth and coalesence are through martensitic twinning or twinning domains during deformation which leads to various interactions between the plates including cross, insert, coalescence and conversion. The substructure of the martensite is a crisscross twinning net. The corresponding deformation modes of the austenite are also studied.