In the present study, plain low carbon steel with 0·033 wt- carbon content was subjected to severe pressure during continuous cooling from austenite region. The pressure increased gradually and then suddenly released by the breakdown of ram under pressure. As a result, a microstructure composed of 80 lath martensite and 20 ferrite was produced. Results showed that the martensite formation is not due to the effect of cooling rate but the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the austenite to ferrite transformation start temperature Ar3.
