Microstructures developed by super-rapid induction heating-and-quenching (SRIHQ) of Fe-1.4%Cr-1%C pearlitic steel

Microstructures and hardness of a Fe-1.4%Cr-1%C pearlitic steel processed by super-rapid induction heating-and-quenching (SRIHQ) under various conditions have been investigated. A nano-scaled laminated microstructure composed of two different types of martensite (highly-twinned or containing a high dislocation density) was formed and the maximum hardness was obtained by heating to 1223 K in 0.5 s and quenched. Electron energy loss spectroscopy indicated that the two different types of martensite were formed depending on the local solute-concentration in the non-uniform solute-distribution realized by the SRIHQ-process.