Martensite

Martensite is a very hard and durable form of steel that forms when certain metals are rapidly cooled from high temperatures—a process called quenching. During cooling, the metal's atoms arrange themselves into a specific, tightly packed structure, resulting in increased strength and hardness. This transformation happens very quickly, trapping the atoms in a new configuration before they can settle into their more relaxed arrangement. Martensite is commonly used in applications requiring high toughness and wear resistance, such as surgical instruments, cutting tools, and some automotive parts, due to its remarkable hardness.