The transition that determines the micro-structure of the alloy is a solid-state process: Austenite <-> Ferrite + Cementite Austenite is stable above 727 C and is an interstitial solid solution of ...
The microstructure is now a ploycrystalline pearlite with the hard-brittle proeutectoid cementite on the grain boundaries. This structure makes the alloy more brittle than the eutectoid pearlite ...