Elastic Strains of Cementite in a Pearlite Steel during Tensile Deformation Measured by Neutron Diffraction

Abstract

Lattice plane strain, i.e., elastic strain, in cementite plates embedded in the ferrite matrix was measured by in situ neutron diffraction during tensile deformation for a hypereutectoid pearlite steel. The employment of time-of-flight method and microstructure control enable us to measure the shift of cementite peaks along tensile and transverse directions at the applied stress up to 1.6 GPa. The highest elastic strains of cementite determined was approximately 0.015. Heterogeneous plastic deformation between ferrite and cementite as well as among ferrite blocks are discussed.