Some Recent Advances in the Study of Transformations in Alloy Steels

Abstract

Some effects of partial transformation of austenite at one subcritical temperature on the isothermal transformation characteristics of the residual aust- enite at a different temperature are described. Formulae are presented for calculating from the chemi- cal composition of a steel the progress of martensite formation with decrease of temperature during rapid cooling. The general features of continuous-cooling transformation diagrams of alloy steels are discussed with reference to a selection of typical diagrams. The practical significance of diagrams of this type is indicated. The relative hardenabilities of a number of steels are compared using several available methods of assessment. The various methods are shown to give dissimilar results.