Abstract
: Tensile properties of the Fe–1.44C–8Mn–1.9Al (mass %) steel with a fully austenitic microstructure, obtained by rapid quenching from the austenite range, was determined at room temperature. Tensile tests were performed using specimens prepared in two different routes involving an exchanged sequence of machining and heat treatment as the last processing steps prior to tensile tests. In spite of the occurrence of deformation twinning, total tensile elongations in both processing routes remained below 18%. Abrupt stress drops during tensile tests suggested the occurrence of discontinuities in tensile specimens. Detailed examination of the fracture surface indicated a mixed intergranular–transgranular fracture mode. Furthermore, a high density of surface cracks was observed near the outer surface in the gauge section of fractured tensile specimens. The origin of surface cracks could not be identified. The coincidence of surface cracks with the grain boundaries, especially those nearly perpendicular to the tensile direction, is thought to be responsible for the accelerated grain boundary decohesion and the premature fracture of tensile specimens.
Highlights
Due to their outstanding work-hardening properties, high-Mn steels are used in a wide variety of applications [1,2,3]
Tensile properties of the Fe–1.44C–8Mn–1.9Al steel with a fully austenitic microstructure, obtained by rapid quenching from the austenite range to suppress the precipitation of cementite, was determined at room temperature
Tensile tests were performed using specimens prepared in two different routes involving an exchanged sequence of machining and heat treatment as the last processing steps prior to tensile tests
Summary
Due to their outstanding work-hardening properties, high-Mn steels are used in a wide variety of applications [1,2,3]. Heo et al [15] reported a tensile strength of 1100 MPa and a total elongation of 40% for an Fe–10.62Mn–2.84Al–0.177C steel (concentrations in mass %) with an austenite fraction of 34 vol %. The preceding examples of medium-Mn steels contain low C concentrations, leading to the formation of austenitic–ferritic microstructures Mechanical properties of these steels are largely controlled by the amount and stability of austenite and the type of deformation-induced processes in the austenitic constituent. The present contribution discusses the tensile properties of a bulk medium-Mn high-C steel with special alloying additions to oppose the precipitation of cementite. It aims to justify the mechanical properties on the basis of crack nucleation and growth mechanisms. The reported mechanical properties enable a comparison with those of the well-known high-Mn and Hadfield steels
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