Traditionally, carburization is carried out at high temperature to maximize the solubility and the rate of interstitial solute diffusion. On cooling to room temperature, however, a major part of the solute atoms will precipitate as carbide phases. The graph shows the appropriate time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for the heat treatment of an austenitic stainless steel with conventional carbon contents.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels → Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels → Low-Temperature Carburization of Austenitic Stainless Steels
