2119.     LIPSON, H., AND PARKER, A. M. B.  Structure of Martensite.  Jour. Iron Steel Inst. (London), vol. 149, 1944, pp. 123-141; Chem. Abs., vol. 38, 1944, p. 1195.

        Martensite may be regarded as a deformed supersaturated solid solution of C in a-Fe formed by very rapid quenching of a solid solution of C in γ-Fe.  It is very reactive, decomposing to cementite and a-Fe at temperatures below 300° and as low as 100°-200°.  The structure is body-centered tetragonal.  Martensite would probably behave like cementite, forming H₂ and hydrocarbons with acids and hydrocarbons only with H₂.  The method of formation almost certainly precludes any possibility that it is involved in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.