2003 Volume 44 Issue 9 Pages 1679-1681
E21-Fe3AlC carbide (κ) in the Fe–Al–C ternary system is known to have ductility at room temperature. It forms a lamellar structure similar to the pearlite with a ferrite (α) phase through a eutectoid-like reaction from an austenite (γ) phase and improved mechanical properties are expected by replacing cementite to κ phase. The mechanical properties of α+κ two-phase lamellar structure were investigated through micro-Vickers hardness measurements and compression tests at room temperature in order to compare with those of pearlite steels. A typical mean inter-lamellar spacing of Fe–8 at%Mn–13 at%Al–7 at%C alloy aged at 773 K for 100 h was 60 nm and its yield stress and micro-Vickers hardness were 1880 MPa and 580 HV, respectively. Yield stress and micro-Vickers hardness of these specimens were higher than those of pearlite steels regardless of the mean inter-lamellar spacing. Those results seem to be rationalized by taking the solid solution hardening of ferrite phase into account.