Bainite

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Named for Edgar Bain, bainite is a microstructure that is formed when austenite is cooled rapidly enough to avoid forming pearlite but cooling is delayed long enough to prevent the formation of martensite. Bainite seems to have some characteristics of both. It is diffusion dependent but does not form the lamellar structures of pearlite. However, like martensite it's structure can be in the form of lathe or plate, suggesting shear as well as diffusion. Bainite has some of the hardness properties of martensite and some of the toughness properties of pearlite.


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