Allotrope of Iron
From 912 to 1,394 °C (1,674 to 2,541 °F) alpha iron undergoes a phase transition from body-centred cubic (BCC) to the face-centred cubic (FCC) configuration of gamma iron, also called austenite. This is similarly soft and ductile but can dissolve considerably more carbon (as much as 2.04% by mass at 1,146 °C (2,095 °F)). This gamma form of iron is exhibited by the most commonly used type of stainless steel for making hospital and food-service equipment.
Read more about this topic: Austenite
Famous quotes containing the word iron:
“Already the iron door of the north
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—Stanley Jasspon Kunitz (b. 1905)