Carbon maldistribution during the martensitic transformation

The paper deals with the mechanism of removal of carbon atoms with the participation of dislocations and vacancies under the action of elastic stresses caused by martensitic transition. Vacancies are formed as a result of heat treatment and are involved in the displacement of carbon in the interstitial site. Under the action of elastic stresses, clusters are formed from vacancies and interstitial carbon, which turn out to be trapped by dislocations. In a periodic field of elastic stresses, the width of a dislocation increases, which leads to its movement, as a result of which the carbon atoms in the clusters are carried to the grain boundaries.