bainite
|bai-nite|
/ˈbeɪnaɪt/
steel microstructure between pearlite and martensite
Etymology
'bainite' is named after the American metallurgist Edgar C. Bain; the ending '-ite' is a suffix used for minerals and mineral-like phases.
'bainite' was coined in the early 20th century to denote the specific microstructural phase observed and described by Bain and colleagues; the form combines the proper name 'Bain' with the suffix '-ite' to form the modern term.
Initially the term identified the phase observed and reported by Bain; over time it has become the standard metallurgical name for that specific microstructure in steels and related alloys.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a microstructure that forms in steels and iron–carbon alloys during isothermal transformation at temperatures between those producing pearlite and martensite; typically composed of ferrite and carbides in a plate-like or acicular morphology, offering a combination of strength and toughness.
The steel's bainite microstructure improved its toughness without severely reducing strength.
Last updated: 2026/01/02 03:12