Official Answer
Answer
Austempering is a heat-treating process that results in a bainitic microstructure rather than the traditional martensitic structure. Para los anillos de acero al carbono SAE 1070 o 1090, el austemperado implica enfriar desde la temperatura de austenización a un baño de sal mantenido por encima de la temperatura inicial de martensita ($M_s$). Esto da como resultado un anillo con dureza equivalente pero ductilidad y tenacidad al impacto significativamente mayores. This is especially beneficial for spiral rings that must be expanded significantly during installation, as it reduces the risk of 'snapping' during the assembly of heavy-duty truck drivelines.
