martensite

[ mahr-tn-zahyt ]

noun

, Metallurgy.

1. a metastable microconstituent of any of various forms of carbon steel, produced by undercooling sufficiently below the normal transformation temperature, especially a hard, brittle product of the decomposition of austenite, produced in this way.

martensite

/ ˌmɑːtɪnˈzɪtɪk; ˈmɑːtɪnˌzaɪt /

noun

1. a constituent formed in steels by rapid quenching, consisting of a supersaturated solid solution of carbon in iron. It is formed by the breakdown of austenite when the rate of cooling is large enough to prevent pearlite forming

Derived Forms

• martensitic, adjective

Other Words From

• mar·ten·sit·ic [mahr-tn-, zit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of martensite¹

1895–1900; named after Adolf Martens (died 1914), German metallurgist; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of martensite¹

C20: named after Adolf Martens (died 1914), German metallurgist

Example Sentences

Below the temperature of the point F the martensite becomes heterogeneous, and forms pearlite.

From Project Gutenberg