Role of retained austenite on the deformation of an Fe-0.07 C-1.8 Mn-1.4 Si dual-phase steel

Abstract

The influence of retained austenite on the work hardening behavior of dual-phase steel has been investigated with an Fe-0.07 C-1.8 Mn-1.4 Si steel. With a constant cooling rate of 5 °C per second after intercritical annealing at 780 °C, a significant quantity (about 8 vol pct) of retained austenite was obtained in the dual-phase microstructure. The retained austenite was classified morphologically into either ‘isolated’ or ‘capsulated’ types by TEM observation. The ‘capsulated’ type, which was found without a particular shape inside the microtwinned martensite particle, withstood much deformation by being protected by the surrounding martensite. While the ‘isolated’ type, which was found with an equiaxed shape and was isolated from martensite particles, was easily deformed by the first several percent plastic strain. The increase in work hardening rate, caused by the strain induced transformation of retained austenite to martensite, was ascribed to the contribution of the ‘isolated’ type, the major volume fraction of retained austenite. The effect of the retained austenite on the yielding of dual-phase steel was not indicated since the reduction in the volume fraction of retained austenite was negligible at the initial deformation stage.