%0 journal article %@ 0261-3069 %A Vieweg, A.,Povoden-Karadeniz, E.,Ressel, G.,Prevedel, P.,Wojcik, T.,Mendez-Martin, F.,Stark, A.,Keckes, J.,Kozeschnik, E. %D 2017 %J Materials and Design %N %P 214-222 %R doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2017.09.065 %T Phase evolution and carbon redistribution during continuous tempering of martensite studied with high resolution techniques %U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2017.09.065 %X Using high resolution techniques, such as, 3D atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron radiation, the continuous tempering process of a 50CrMo4 steel is analyzed. Differences of continuous heating compared to isothermal holding at certain tempering temperatures are discussed. Focus is laid on in-depth characterization of phase development and carbon redistribution effects, such as, segregation and clustering. The results of this work suggest that segregation is the dominant effect at low temperatures (< 150 °C), while cluster formation within these segregated areas is prominent at intermediate temperatures (150–250 °C). Epsilon carbide is formed during continuous heating with off-stoichiometric chemical composition (270–350 °C). It transforms finally into cementite (T > 350 °C).