Effect of carbide formation processes during tempering on decomposition of martensite and the ductility of steels

1. With increasing tempering temperature the precipitation of carbide from temper martensite is due, according to the variation of the resistivity with tempering temperature, to decomposition of intermediate carbides e(Fe2C) and χ(Fe5C2) and the change in martensite to a condition in metastable equilibrium with the respective carbide phases. 2. It was found that the anomalous change in the mechanical properties is correlated with the decomposition of intermediate carbides and the decomposition of martensite, accompanied by carbide transformations.