Abstract: In situ observations of the nucleation and growth of ferrous martensites,including ε-, lenticular,butterfly,thin-plate and composite-plate ones at low temperature stage on optical or transmission electron microscope were carried out.The results confirmed the faulting model for the formation of ε-martensite proposed by Olso and Cohen.The grain boundaries and tri- ple points are the favourable nucleation sites for the thin plates,and their surface relief grown initially like a small needle.The lenticular martensite was observed as two stages of formation.According to the dislocation resolving reaction. (a/6)[111]_b→(a/3)[]_b+(a/2)[111]_b,the emission dislocation(=(a/2)[111]_b)acting as the dislocation source for the transition of lattice invariant shear from twinning to slip was proposed.

Key words: martensite, nucleation, growth, observation, emission dislocation