Extended X-Ray absorption fine structure investigation of carbon stabilized expanded austenite and carbides in stainless steel AISI 316

Abstract

Low temperature carburized AISI 316 stainless steel - carbon expanded austenite - was investigated with EXAFS and synchrotron diffraction together with synthesized carbides of the type M3C2, M 7C3 and M23C6. It was found that the chemical environment of carbon expanded austenite is not associated with any of the investigated carbides, that carbon has a strong affinity for chromium, i.e. short range order, and that carbon is in solid solution. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.