The effects of martensite cold work on the reverse austenite formation were analyzed using vibrating sample magnetometry. The samples were previously austenitized at 820°C for 30 min and then subjected to 85% height reduction. In sequence, the samples were aged at 600°C for different periods of time. For comparison purposes a set of non-deformed samples – labelled as 0% deformation – was submitted to the same aging conditions. The mechanical deformation initially retarded the reverse austenite formation in the matrix.

A high Ti content maraging C300 steel was analyzed by X-ray diffraction measurements to study the effect of aging at 773 K for different treatment times by monitoring lattice parameter, microstrain, crystallite size and formation/dissolution of intermetallic Ni 3 (Ti, Mo). The results showed a strong influence of cold and hot deformation over precipitation of the coherent metastable orthorhombic phase Ni 3 (Ti, Mo). The volumetric fraction of this precipitation can go up to 14 and 19% in non-deformed and deformed samples, respectively. At longer aging time, this precipitate starts to dissolve to form a more stable μ phase and reverse austenite. Also, the results showed a strong influence of deformation and precipitation on crystallite size and microstrain.