Low Temperature Carburizing of Stainless Steels and the Development of Carbon Expanded Austenite*

Abstract Low-temperature carburizing dramatically enhances the inherently low wear resistance of austenitic stainless steels due to formation a carbon-supersaturated solid solution, i.e. expanded austenite. The austenite from low-temperature has been intensively investigated. However, influence chemical composition steel on response not received same interest. This contribution addresses effect in terms carbon solubility, decomposition upon exceeding solubility limit and elasto-plastic accommodation carbon-induced lattice expansion. results demonstrate that increases with an increasing Cr-equivalent higher Cr- Ni-equivalents favor Cr-based M 7 C 3 over Fe-based Hägg (M 5 2 ) carbide.