An Iron-Silicon Carbide

Abstract

MANY microconstituents alleged to be iron carbides containing silicon have been reported^1‐9. Marles⁴ carried out a systematic microscopic examination of rapidly cooled irons containing up to 7 per cent silicon and 1.7–3.6 per cent carbon. A non-heat-tinting constituent described as a ‘silico-carbide’ was found associated with cementite. Hurst and Riley⁵ found a micro-constituent containing carbon and silicon in rapidly cooled iron–silicon–carbon alloys containing 10–15 per cent silicon. More recently, Owen and Street⁶ identified another micro-constituent, believed to be a carbide containing silicon, in slowly cooled high-purity alloys containing 5–8 per cent silicon and small amounts of carbon. This carbide was designated the X-constituent.