The martensitic phase refers to a specific microstructural transformation that occurs in certain alloys, particularly steels, when they are rapidly cooled or quenched from a high temperature. This transformation results in a hard and brittle structure known as martensite. The process is characterized by a diffusionless transformation where the atomic arrangement changes from austenite, a face-centered cubic structure, to a body-centered tetragonal structure. The hardness of martensite arises from the high concentration of carbon trapped in the lattice, which impedes dislocation movement. As a result, components made from martensitic materials exhibit excellent wear resistance and strength, but they can be quite brittle, necessitating careful heat treatment processes like tempering to improve toughness.
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