An evaluation of the tensile properties of a supersaturated carbon layer via in situ synchrotron diffraction

Tensile properties of a supersaturated carbon layer (∼7.5at.%) in AISI 304 grade stainless steel have been evaluated using in situ synchrotron diffraction. A small incident beam enabled diffraction from within the enriched layer and the unaffected material during tensile deformation. Reconstructed stress–strain behaviour indicated that layer strengths >2GPa were attained. The elevated carbon level was also found to have significantly softened the diffraction elastic constants of the enriched layer when compared to the parent material.