SOLUTE DISTRIBUTION IN THE FERROMAGNETIC MATRIX OF AN M50 HIGH-SPEED STEEL IN ANNEALED AND QUENCHED STATES

A method of analysing by Mossbauer spectroscopy a steel ferromagnetic matrix has been developed. It provides the fractions of atomic element s in substitutional or interstitial sites in the Fe lattice, from the comparison between the experimental hyperfine-field distribution P(H)( exp) and the calculated one P(H)(cal). This method, applied to an M50 steel, in the simple case of ferrite (the annealed state), and extende d to the most complex situation of martensites quenched from various t emperatures, describes the initial state of the steel before any furth er tempering treatment. The atomic fractions of Cr, Mo, V, and C in th e Fe lattice have been specified.