The Mechanisms of Transformation and Mechanical Behavior of Ferrous Martensite

International audienceMartensitic steels are among the most important structural materials used today, yet they are far from being completely understood. In this article we survey the academic literature pertaining to ferrous martensite, from seminal works performed starting in the mid 20th century to the insight gained from the availability of modern characterization technology within the last several years. The mechanisms governing the formation of the martensitic microstructure and its dependence on chemistry and processing route are critically evaluated. This is followed by a description of our current understanding of the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties, particularly yield strength and work hardening rate. Throughout, we aim to highlight topics that remain open as unanswered areas for continued research