Cementite

Cementite occurs in steels, in meteorites, possibly at the core of the Earth and has uses in its pure form. It's composition can deviate from Fe3C, but not by much because the Fe–C bond contributes to its cohesion. Its crystallographic unit cell is orthorhombic and primitive, with large lattice parameters, explaining its hardness. Many of its properties are anisotropic. Its single-crystal elastic properties have been investigated using first-principles calculations and by clever experiments. The iron atoms in the cell occupy two types of positions with different point symmetries; the four carbon atoms lodge within prismatic interstices. The structure can develop defects such as dislocations, faults and vacancies. Cementite is metallic and ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of about 187∘C. When alloyed, metallic solutes substitute on to the iron sites; smaller atoms such as boron replace carbon at interstitial sites. This review focuses on cementite as a single phase.