austenite

[ aw-stuh-nahyt ]

noun

, Metallurgy.

1. a solid solution of carbon or of carbon and other elements in gamma iron, having a face-centered cubic lattice at all temperatures.
2. an allotrope of iron, stable between 910°C and 1400°C and having a face-centered cubic lattice; gamma iron.

austenite

/ ˈɔːstəˌnaɪt; ˌɔːstəˈnɪtɪk /

noun

1. a solid solution of carbon in face-centred-cubic gamma iron, usually existing above 723°C
2. the gamma phase of iron, stabilized at low temperatures by the addition of such elements as nickel

Derived Forms

• austenitic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of austenite¹

1900–05; named after Sir W. C. Roberts- Austen (1843–1902), English metallurgist; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of austenite¹

C20: named after Sir William C. Roberts- Austen (1843–1902), English metallurgist

Example Sentences

Austenite may contain carbon in any proportion up to about 2.2%.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the mass consists of primary austenite, eutectic austenite and cementite interstratified and pro-eutectoid cementite.

From Project Gutenberg

Ferrite and cementite, already described in 10, are the final products of the transformation of austenite in slow-cooling.

From Project Gutenberg

The first particles of austenite to freeze contain about 0.33% of carbon (p).

From Project Gutenberg

The white-hot, solid, but soft mass is now a conglomerate of “primary” austenite, “eutectic” austenite and “eutectic” cementite.

From Project Gutenberg