AbstractMetallographic observations have in the past demonstrated conclusively that the bainite transformation is susceptible to mechanical stabilisation. This means that the growth of bainite can be hindered when the transformation occurs in austenite which is plastically deformed, although the rate of heterogeneous nucleation may be accelerated. In the present work we report dilatometric measurements to confirm the earlier metallographic observations and include an interpretation of the effect of prestrain on the martensite thatformsfrom the carbon enriched residual austenite that remains after bainite.MST/3616