A New Type of Phase Transformations in the Process of Shockwave Deformation of Low-Carbon Steel

Abstract—When studying the microstructure of carbon steel by the example of steel 10 and steel 45, inclusions of gold and silver were found on the surface hardened by shockwave deformation, which were confirmed by experimental and quantitative studies. The formation hypothesis of synthetic gold and silver in the structure of deformed steel is proposed on the basis of cold nuclear fusion (CNF) or low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR) in the deformation core zone. It is shown that the CNF nuclear chain reaction is triggered only when an amorphous core emerges in the deformation zone. The splitting of the amorphous steel structure into iron clusters and degenerate electron gas leads to a collapsing self-compression of the system due to the pressure of the degenerate electron gas and electromagnetic interaction of iron clusters. As a result of the collapse of iron clusters, the CNF of the gold and silver proceeds in them. The leading stage of iron-silver transmutation is shown. It was proved that in the process of silver CNF, an additional proton flux is introduced into the system that leads to their recombination with free electrons and the formation of a significant amount of hydrogen. Hydrogen saturation of the steel causes the well-known effect of anomalous spontaneous deformation of iron, which activates amorphization of steel in the core deformation zone accelerating the CNF process. The development of experimental studies to confirm the course of CNF in the processes of the shockwave deformation of steel during its surface hardening is shown. © 2022, Allerton Press, Inc.