cementite

[si-men-tahyt]

noun

Metallurgy.

1. an iron carbide, Fe 3 C, a constituent of steel and cast iron, sometimes with part of its iron replaced by another metal, as manganese.

cementite

/ sɪˈmɛntaɪt /

noun

1. the hard brittle compound of iron and carbon that forms in carbon steels and some cast irons. Formula: Fe 3 C

Word History and Origins

Origin of cementite¹

First recorded in 1885–90; cement + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

I think," said Hoddan, "that we can make an electronic field that'll soften the cementite between the crystals of steel, without heating up anything else.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

A final steel will be composed of pearlite; ferrite and pearlite; or cementite and pearlite, according to the carbon content.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

He is then able to pick out its component minerals, ferrite, austenite, martensite, pearlite, graphite, cementite, and to show how their abundance, shape and arrangement contribute to the strength or weakness of the specimen.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

As more and more carbon is contained in the alloy—for steel is a true alloy—it begins to appear as graphite, and its properties counteract the remaining brittle cementite.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

From this combination, we are able to get a very strong ferrite matrix and a very hard tough cementite.

Read more on Project Gutenberg