Temperature-Dependent Mechanical Stability of Retained Austenite in Thermomechanically Processed 3Mn Steel

The temperature-dependent mechanical stability of retained austenite in medium-Mn transformation induced plasticity 0.17C-3.3Mn-1.6Al-1.7Al-0.22Si-0.23Mo thermomechanically processed steel was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Specimens were deformed up to rupture in static tensile tests in a temperature range 20–200°C. It was found that deformation temperature affects significantly the intensity of TRIP effect. In case of specimens deformed at temperatures higher than 60°C, a gradual temperature-related decrease in the stability of γ phase was noted. It indicates a progressive decrease of the significance of the TRIP effect and at the same time the growing importance of the thermally activated processes affecting a thermal stability of retained austenite.