Variant Selection of Reversed Austenite in Lath Martensite

The microstructure of partially reversed lath martensite in 13%Cr–6%Ni steel was examined by electron backscatter diffraction, and the crystallographic character of the reversed austenite is discussed in relation to the mechanism of ‘austenite memory’. Most of the reversed austenite grains had the same orientation as the original austenite matrix before martensitic transformation. However, some austenite grains had a different orientation in a twin relationship to the other major austenite grains, although all the reversed austenite grains retained a Kurdjumov–Sachs relationship to the martensite matrix. On the basis of the crystallographic relationships among the habit plane, the close packed direction of austenite and the martensite lath boundary, we suggest that the austenite variants are theoretically limited to two kinds within one packet and five kinds within one original austenite grain. In addition, we found that internal stress introduced by martensitic transformation plays an important role in determining the austenite variant: internal stress operates so that reversed austenite selects the same variant as that present in the original austenite matrix before martensitic transformation. This phenomenon is understood as the austenite memory.