Effect of microstructure of cementite on interphase stress state in carbon steel

The experiments related to stress states of ferrite and cementite in carbon steels were carried out including in situ four-point bending and tensile test by X-ray diffraction technique. Stresses in the cementite phase can be measured by conventional X-ray diffraction instrument after a specific treatment on the specimen surface. In order to estimate the stress states in two phases, the X-ray elastic constants of two phases in single-phase state (PXEC) are determined by the experimental X-ray elastic constants of them in composite state (CXEC). The effects of volume fraction and particle size of spheroidal cementite on the interphase stress state are estimated. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical relationships reported in the previous studies.