The effect of aluminum and carbon on the structural changes and strain hardening of austenitic Fe-Mn-Al alloy steels during plastic deformation

• Published in: Scripta metallurgica et materialia 1991-08, Vol.25 (8), p.1869-1874
• Main Authors: Li, P., Chu, S.L., Chou, C.P., Chen, F.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0956-716X
• DOI: 10.1016/0956-716X(91)90319-V

The effect was investigated of Al and C on the structural change during plastic deformation and correlation of microstructural observation with the plastic stress--strain behaviour of this series of Fe--Mn--Al alloys. Strain-induced martensite transformations are found to be a strengthening mode for Fe--Mn--Al alloy. As Al content increases, the principal strenghtening mode changes from strain-induced martensite transformation to deformation twinning. As Al content increases at constant C content, the deformation twinning density and strain hardening decrease; and the latter parameters of these alloys, on the other hand, become higher. Carbon element plays an important role in the strain hardening process. This is consistent with previous works in high Mn steels. As C content increases, the lattice parameters of these alloys increase and strain hardening is improved.