Austenite, also known as gamma phase iron, is a metallic non-magnetic allotrope
of iron or a solid solution of iron, with an alloying element. In plain-carbon steel,
austenite exists above the critical eutectoid temperature of 1,000 K (1,340 °F);
other alloys of steel have different eutectoid temperatures.
It is named after Sir William Chandler Roberts-Austen (1843–1902)
Edit to add:
From 912 to 1,394 °C (1,674 to 2,541 °F) alpha iron undergoes a phase transition
from body-centred cubic (BCC) to the face-centred cubic (FCC) configuration of gamma iron,
also called austenite. This is similarly soft and ductile but can dissolve considerably
more carbon (as much as 2.04% by mass at 1,146 °C (2,095 °F)). This gamma form of iron
is exhibited by the most commonly used type of stainless steel for making
hospital and food-service equipment.