On the existence of declared 9R phase in Fe–Ni invar alloy

Abstract

An analysis of recently reported electron diffraction patterns suggests that metastable austenitic Fe–32Ni alloy subjected to α → γ transformation upon slow heating does not exhibit any signs of formation of the 9R phase; the conventional nanocrystalline γ phase with an fcc lattice is formed instead. Extended lamellae with a layered structure, erroneously identified as a new phase of the (3R + 9R) type in Fe–32Ni alloy, are conventional twinning (midrib) regions of each initial α crystal, in which γ-phase twin nanolamellae are formed upon heating.