Influence of ultrasonic vibrations on the retained austenite content of a quenched 1% carbon and 2.3% manganese steel sample

Experiments have been carried out to examine the influence of ultrasonic vibrations on the retained austenite content of a quenched 1% carbon, 2.3% manganese steel. It is found that ultrasonic treatment of the steel above Ms temperature activates the austenite. More martensite is found to be formed when ultrasonically treated austenite is quenched to a fixed reference temperature compared with a specimen that has not been treated with ultrasonic waves. The activation of austenite to form martensite has been attributed to the increase in martensite nucleation sites resulting from the passage of power ultrasonic energy in the austenite. © 1989.