WHITE SPOTS OF THE RAKHSHTADT - BURKOV PARADOX

Research on high-strength steels of the pearlitic class, mainly mangan ese, silicon, and alloys, the isothermal hardening and tempering of wh ich occurs with unusual (compared to the trivial heat treatment) chang es in the mechanical properties, has been conducted for quite a long t ime. Based on the results of the research an attempt has been made to generalize the data and develop recommendations promoting a wider use of isothermal hardening with tempering. This can be attained by wideni ng the temperature ranges of the heat-treatment operations using the p ossibility of a substantial reduction of the susceptibility of high-st rength steels to hydrogen embrittlement. The present paper is devoted to this topic. A still greater practical effect can be attained if thi s work attracts the attention of electrochemists and not only metal sc ientists. Their joint effort can be turned toward a successful solutio n of the problem.