Austenite Stability and Deformation Behavior in Medium Mn Steel Processed by Cyclic Quenching ART Heat Treatment

This study investigated the austenite stability and deformation behavior of cyclic quenching-austenite reverse transformation processed Fe-0.25C-3.98Mn-1.22Al-0.20Si-0.19Mo-0.03Nb medium Mn steel. A number of findings were obtained. Most importantly, the extent of the TRIP effect was mainly determined by an appropriately retained austenite stability rather than its content. Simultaneously, chemical elements were the key factors affecting austenite stability, of which Mn had the greatest impact, while the difference of retained austenite grain size and Mn content resulted in different degrees of retained austenite stability. Additionally, there were still large amounts of strip and granular-retained austenite shown in the microstructure of the CQ3-ART sample after tensile fracture, revealing that the excessively stable, retained austenite inhibited the generation of an extensive TRIP effect.

Effect of Aluminum and Vanadium on Retained Austenite Stability and Work Hardening in Silicon Free TRIP Steel

Despite that the conventional CSiMn TRIP steel has a promissing mechanical attributes, it has a limitations on the galvanizability of such grades of steel due to Silicon. Thus, aluminum as a strong candidate for substituting silicon has been introduced in this study accompanied by vanadium as a microalloying element. Microstructure of the studied steel was observed by using OM, and SEM. X-ray diffraction analysis, and tent-etching technique carried out on the studied steel to identify the fractions of the retained Austenite after thermal mechanical process, as well as its morphology. In addition, the mechanical properties in term of strength, ductility, strain hardening, and the rate of strain hardening were studied to define the influenced parameters throughout this alteration. The results refer to the possibility of complete replacement of silicon in TRIP steel with aluminum at the presence of vanadium as a micro alloying element.