Microstructure of martensite in Fe–C–Cr steel

The microstructure of martensite and retained austenite in materials of this type austenitized at various temperatures were investigated. It was found that the amount of carbon in the matrix increased with the austenitizing temperature, and that the martensite morphology clearly changed from a lath form to a lens form. The structure of the retained austenite appeared in the form of a film at the lath boundaries, or depending on the location, in block form.