ESOMAT 2009, 02027 (2009)
DOI: 10.1051/esomat/200902027

Observations of decomposition of martensite during heat treatment of steels using atom probe tomography

E.V. Pereloma¹, S.P. Ringer², I.B. Timokhina³ and P.D. Hodgson<sup>3

1</sup>  School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
²  Australian Key Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
³  Centre for Material and Fibre Innovation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3127, Australia

elenap@uow.edu.au

Published online: 1 September 2009

Abstract
The decomposition of martensite during tempering or ageing is an important phenomenon as it leads to changes in the mechanical properties. These changes could take place during both steel manufacturing or in-service. Thus, their understanding is required to predict the material performance. Recent advances in the development of local electrode atom probes has led to a significant increase in the analysed volume of material (up to 100 millions of atoms) and at the same time reduced the acquisition times. This allows improvement in data statistics when investigating fine nanoscale features, such as solute segregation, clustering and ultrafine precipitation. Selected results of atom probe studies on the decomposition of martensite from bake hardening of a pre-strained Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steel and ageing of FeNiTiMnAl maraging steel are presented.

Note to the reader:
On page 02027-p2 several mistakes have been corrected on October 19, 2009.

© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences 2009