Control of the formation and stability of reverted austenite is critical in achieving a favorable combination of strength, ductility, and toughness in highstrength steels. Cu precipitation is found to accelerate the austenite reversion by enhancing the chemical driving force and by serving as heterogeneous nucleation sites. The Atom Probe Tomography image shows the microstructure of reverted austenite and Cu-rich precipitates. Three Cu-rich precipitates are detected in the volume of analysis; two are adjacent to the austenite phase and one is encompassed within the austenite phase.
Recorded on CAMECA LEAP 5000 XR at City University of Hong Kong. Image courtesy of Zengbao Jiao, Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
M.C. Niu et al. (2022). Cu-assisted austenite reversion and enhanced TRIP effect in maraging stainless steels. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 104, 52-58.