7. Glossary

Austenite; austenite

Solid, non-magnetic phase of steel and cast iron, characterized by a face-centered cubic crystal structure. It forms at high temperatures and can be stabilized at room temperature by alloying elements such as nickel or manganese.

Bainite; bainite

Microstructural structure of iron and steels obtained by specific heat treatment. It offers good mechanical strength and better ductility than martensite.

Cementite; cementite

Cementite is an intermetallic compound of iron and carbon, representing the hardest phase in the iron-carbon system. It can be difficult to machine and is often modified by heat treatment to improve the material's properties.

Treatment cycle

These are the specific heat treatment...