The effect of C on the mechanical behavior of a low-density high-Mn steel

Abstract

Low-density steels (FeMnAlC) with an austenitic microstructure were the subject of intense research due to their outstanding combination of high strength and ductility. However, there is no systematic study on the effect of C in a high-Mn low-density steel maintaining the stacking fault energy (SFE) focused on the operating deformation mechanisms, particularly involving in situ synchrotron analysis. This study aims to evaluate the influence of C on the mechanical behavior of austenitic alloys while maintaining the grain size and the SFE. The results indicate that C plays a key role on the mechanical behavior of these alloys and its presence increases not only the strength but also the ductility. The in situ synchrotron analysis showed that decreasing the test temperature has a similar effect of the C, in which both are associated with lower levels of dislocation mobility and higher amounts of mechanical twins (TWIP effect).Graphical abstract