Isothermal transformation of austenite in chromium steels

Discussed are the particularities of the kinetics of isothermic tranformation of austenite and the resultant microstructres in chromium steels. It was shown that the temperature of the intermediate stability maximum interval, its width and the degree of stability of the austenite depend on the carbon-to-chromium ratio in steel. Above said interval, austenite can decompose into the pearlite and the intermediate products of their mixture. The intermediate maximum of stability of austenite is caused by the effect of chromium exerts upon the processes of formation and precipitaion of carbides from austenite and upon the type of said carbides