Mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of high-manganese (0.9 C – 13.95 Mn) steel during aging
The influence of temperature on the structural and mechanical properties of the (0.9 C - 13.95 Mn) steel was investigated in this work. The high-manganese steel has underwent aging treatments at temperatures 700, 750, 800 and 850 °C for different times. The experimental techniques used are hardness test, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of the high-manganese steel during aging are almost the same. The aging of the high-manganese steel was characterized by a rapid hardening while the overaging by a slow softening. In aging, the dispersion of fine M7C3 carbides in the austenite led to an increase in hardness. In overaging, the softening was caused by the coarsening of the M7C3 carbides.