Estimation of martensite carbon content in as-quenched AISI 52100 steel by X-ray diffraction

Overlapping martensite doublets have been resolved by approximating each component peak by a Pearson VII function. The Bragg angle difference between the component peaks of the resolved doublet is then used to calculate the carbon content of the martensite based on equations originally proposed by Roberts. The analysis has been applied to both an as-received and thermomechanically processed 52100 steel, heat treated to an as-quenched condition, and the results are in good agreement with hardness and retained austenite data. (Auth.)