martensite

[ mahr-tn-zahyt ]

nounMetallurgy.
  1. a metastable microconstituent of any of various forms of carbon steel, produced by undercooling sufficiently below the normal transformation temperature, especially a hard, brittle product of the decomposition of austenite, produced in this way.

Origin of martensite

1
1895–1900; named after Adolf Martens (died 1914), German metallurgist; see -ite1

Other words from martensite

  • mar·ten·sit·ic [mahr-tn-zit-ik], /ˌmɑr tnˈzɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby martensite

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How to use martensite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for martensite

martensite

/ (ˈmɑːtɪnˌzaɪt) /


noun
  1. a constituent formed in steels by rapid quenching, consisting of a supersaturated solid solution of carbon in iron. It is formed by the breakdown of austenite when the rate of cooling is large enough to prevent pearlite forming

Origin of martensite

1
C20: named after Adolf Martens (died 1914), German metallurgist

Derived forms of martensite

  • martensitic (ˌmɑːtɪnˈzɪtɪk), adjective

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