Engineering English
Austenite
Materials Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Austenite is a face-centered cubic phase of iron that is stable at high temperatures and can be retained at room temperature by adding alloying elements. It is the precursor phase from which martensite forms during quenching.
Example in context
“The steel must be heated above the upper critical temperature to fully transform to austenite before quenching.”
“Çelik, su vermeden önce tamamen austenite dönüşmesi için üst kritik sıcaklığın üzerinde ısıtılmalıdır.”
Where engineers use it
Austenite is central to the heat treatment of steel; engineers design heating cycles to achieve full austenitization and control grain growth. It also influences hardenability and final properties.
Synonyms: gamma phase, gamma iron
Practice: can you use “Austenite” at work?
A new technician sets the furnace temperature below the upper critical point. Explain why this prevents the formation of homogeneous austenite.
Show a model answer
“The steel must be fully austenitic before quenching to ensure complete martensite formation.”
“Austenite” in 21 languages
| English | Austenite |
|---|---|
| Turkish | ostenit |
| French | austénite |
| German | Austenit |
| Spanish | austenita |
| Chinese | 奥氏体 |
| Arabic | أوستينيت |
| Portuguese | austenita |
| Russian | аустенит |
| Japanese | オーステナイト |
| Italian | austenite |
| Vietnamese | austenit |
| Hindi | ऑस्टेनाइट |
| Thai | ออสเทนไนต์ |
| Indonesian | austenit |
| Korean | 오스테나이트 |
| Bengali | অস্টেনাইট |
| Dutch | austeniet |
| Swedish | austenit |
| Finnish | austeniitti |
| Ukrainian | аустеніт |
Frequently asked questions
What does Austenite mean in engineering?
Austenite is a face-centered cubic phase of iron that is stable at high temperatures and can be retained at room temperature by adding alloying elements. It is the precursor phase from which martensite forms during quenching. In Materials Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Austenite?
Austenite is pronounced /ˈɔːstənaɪt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Austenite used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The steel must be heated above the upper critical temperature to fully transform to austenite before quenching.”
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