We study here the underlying factors that govern the stability of austenite in a medium Mn (Fe–0.18C–11Mn–3.8Al) (wt-%) steel. In this regard, a novel heat treatment involving intercritical quenching and tempering was designed to obtain high total elongation (TEL) and high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in the cold-rolled steel. And the UTS and TEL approached 920–1150 MPa and 35–65%, respectively. The product of TEL and UTS (PSE) exceeded 40 GPa%, with a maximum value of 60 GPa%. A detailed analysis of microstructure before and after tensile deformation revealed that the TRIP effect occurred and the stability of austenite was predominantly governed by the grain sizes of austenite rather than the orientation of austenite grains. The theoretical analysis of work hardening data suggested that the superior elongation of medium Mn TRIP steel is related to the high stability of austenite and the cooperative deformation of ferrite.
MertingerVNagyETrantaFStrain-induced martensitic transformation in textured austenitic stainless steels. Mater Sci Eng A. 2008; 481–482:718–722. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2007.02.165
2.
OliverSJonesTBFourlarisG.Dual phase versus TRIP strip steels: comparison of dynamic properties for automotive crash performance. Mater Sci Technol. 2007; 23:423–431. doi: 10.1179/174328407X168937
3.
SugimotoKIidaTSakaguchiJRetained austenite characteristics and tensile properties in a TRIP type bainitic sheet steel. ISIJ Int. 2000; 40:902–908. doi: 10.2355/isijinternational.40.902
4.
De CoomanBC.Structure–properties relationship in TRIP steels containing carbide-free bainite. Opin Solid St M. 2004; 8:285–303. doi: 10.1016/j.cossms.2004.10.002
5.
LiHPJiangRHeLFInfluence of deformation degree and cooling rate on microstructure and phase transformation temperature of B1500HS steel. Acta Metall Sin (Engl Lett). 2018; 31:33–47. doi: 10.1007/s40195-017-0594-3
6.
KamoutsiHGiotiEHaidemenopoulosGregory NKinetics of solute partitioning during intercritical annealing of a medium-Mn steel. Mater Mater Trans A. 2015; 46A:4841–4846. doi: 10.1007/s11661-015-3118-7
YooJDParkKT.Microband-induced plasticity in a high Mn–Al–C light steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2008; 496:417–424. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2008.05.042
9.
LeeSLeeSJDe CoomanBC.Austenite stability of ultrafine-grained transformation-induced plasticity steel with Mn partitioning. Scr Mater. 2011; 65:225–228. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2011.04.010
10.
KimSJLeeCGLeeTHCr and Ni on mechanical properties of 0.15 wt.% C TRIP-aided cold rolled steels. Scripta Mater. 2003; 48:539–544. doi: 10.1016/S1359-6462(02)00477-3
11.
LuoHWDongHHuangMX.Effect of intercritical annealing on the lüders strains of medium Mn transformation-induced plasticity steels. Mater Des. 2015; 83:42–48. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2015.05.085
12.
GibbsPJMoorEDMerwinMJAustenite stability effects on tensile behavior of manganese-enriched-austenite transformation-induced plasticity steel. Metall Mater Trans A. 2011; 42A:3691–3702. doi: 10.1007/s11661-011-0687-y
13.
ShiJSunXJWangMQEnhanced work-hardening behavior and mechanical properties in ultrafine-grained steels with large-fractioned metastable austenite. Scr Mater. 2010; 63:815–818. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2010.06.023
14.
De MoorEMatlockDKSpeerJGAustenite stabilization through manganese enrichment. Scr Mater. 2011; 64:185–188. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2010.09.040
15.
LiZCMisraRDKDingHThe significant impact of pre-strain on the structure-mechanical properties relationship in cold-rolled medium manganese TRIP steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 712:206–213. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2017.11.112
16.
LiZCZhangXTMouYJThe impact of intercritical annealing in conjunction with warm deformation process on microstructure, mechanical properties and TRIP effect in medium-Mn TRIP steels. Mater Sci Eng A. 2019; 746:363–371. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2019.01.035
17.
TjahjantoDDSuikerASJTurteltaubSMicromechanical predictions of TRIP steel behavior as a function of microstructural parameters. Comput Mater Sci. 2007; 41:107–116. doi: 10.1016/j.commatsci.2007.03.005
18.
ZhaoKMChangYHuPInfluence of rapid cooling pretreatment on microstructure and mechanical property of hot stamped AHSS part. J Mater Process Tech. 2016; 228:68–75. doi: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2014.09.022
19.
LiXDChangYWangCYComparison of the hot-stamped boron-alloyed steel and the warm-stamped medium-Mn steel on microstructure and mechanical properties. Mater Sci Eng A. 2017; 679:240–248. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2016.10.045
20.
WuZQTangYBChenWExploring the influence of Al content on the hot deformation behavior of Fe-Mn-Al-C steels through 3D processing map. Vacuum. 2019; 159:447–455. doi: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2018.10.079
21.
LiangZYLiYZHuangMX.The respective hardening contributions of dislocations and twins to the flow stress of a twinning-induced plasticity steel. Scr Mater. 2016; 112:28–31. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2015.09.003
22.
HanJNamJHLeeYK.The mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement in intercritically annealed medium Mn TRIP steel. Acta Mater. 2016; 113:1–10. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.04.038
SrivastavaAKBhattacharjeeDJhaGMicrostructural and mechanical characterization of C–Mn–Al–Si cold-rolled TRIP-aided steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2007; 445–446A:549–557. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2006.09.101
25.
DijkNHVButtAMZhaoLThermal stability of retained austenite in TRIP steels studied by synchrotron X-ray diffraction during cooling. Acta Mater. 2005; 53:5439–5447. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2005.08.017
26.
SpeerJGStreicherAMMatlockDK.Symposium on austenite formation and decomposition. Chicago: Springer; 2003. p. 505–522.
27.
ChallaVSAWanXLSomaniMCSignificance of interplay between austenite stability and deformation mechanisms in governing three-stage work hardening behavior of phase-reversion induced nanograined/ultrafine-grained (NG/UFG) stainless steels with high strength-high ductility combination. Scr Mater. 2014; 86:60–63. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2014.05.010
28.
MisraRDKChallaVSAVenkatsuryaPKCInterplay between grain structure, deformation mechanisms and austenite stability in phase-reversion-induced nanograined/ultrafine-grained austenitic ferrous alloy. Acta Mater. 2015; 84:339–348. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2014.10.038
29.
LiZCZhangXTMouYJDesign of an effective heat treatment involving intercritical hardening for high strength-high elongation of 0.2C-1.5Al-(6-8.5)Mn-Fe TRIP steels: microstructural evolution and deformation behavior. Mater Sci Tech. 2020; 36:500–510. doi: 10.1080/02670836.2020.1711614
30.
ArlazarovAGounéMBouazizOEvolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn steels during double annealing. Mat Sci Eng A. 2012; 542:31–39. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2012.02.024
31.
MouYJLiZCZhangXTDesign of an effective heat treatment involving intercritical hardening for high strength-high elongation of 0.2C-3Al-(6-8.5)Mn-Fe TRIP steels: microstructural evolution and deformation behavior. Metals (Basel). 2019; 9:1275–1284. doi: 10.3390/met9121275
32.
JhaBKAvtarRDwivediVSApplicability of modified Crussard-Jaoul analysis on the deformation behaviour of dual-phase steels. J Mater Sci Lett. 1987; 6:891–893. doi: 10.1007/BF01729860
33.
CaiZHDingHXueXMicrostructural evolution and mechanical properties of hot-rolled 11% manganese TRIP steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2013; 560:388–395. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2012.09.083
TomitaYOkabayashiK.Tensile stress strain analysis of cold worked metals and steels and dual phase steels. Metall Trans A. 1985; 16A:865–872. doi: 10.1007/BF02814837
36.
CrussardC.Relation between exact form of tensile curves of metals and accompanying changes in their structure. Rev Metall. 1953; 50:697–703. doi: 10.1051/metal/195350100697
37.
LudwikP.Elemente der technologishen mechanik, Springer, Berlin, 32 (1909) 34–37.
38.
TomitaYOkabayashiK.Tensile stress-strain analysis of cold worked metals and steels and dual-phase steels. Metall Trans A. 1985; 16:865–873. doi: 10.1007/BF02814837
39.
CaiZHDingHXueXSignificance of control of austenite stability and three-stage work-hardening behavior of an ultrahigh strength–high ductility combination transformation-induced plasticity steel. Scr Mater. 2013; 68:865–868. doi: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2013.02.010
