Abstract
The mechanical properties of an austenite-based Fe-Mn-Al-C lightweight steel were improved by co-precipitation of nanoscale Cu-rich and κ-carbide particles. The Fe-28Mn-9Al-0.8C-(0,3)Cu (wt.%) strips were near-rapidly solidified and annealed in the temperature range from 500 °C to 700 °C. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the steel under different annealing processes were studied. Microstructural analysis reveals that nanoscale κ-carbides and Cu-rich particles precipitate in the austenite and ferrite of the steel in this annealing temperature range. Co-precipitation of nanoscale Cu-rich particles and κ-carbides provides an obvious increment in the yield strength. At the annealing temperature of 600 °C, both the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of Fe-28Mn-9Al-0.8C-3Cu (wt.%) steel strip are the highest. The total elongation is 25%, which is obviously higher than that of Cu-free steel strips, for the addition of Cu reduces the large sized κ-carbides precipitated along austenite/ferrite interfaces. When the annealing temperature rises to 700 °C, the strength and ductility of the two steel strips deteriorate due to the formation of massive intergranular κ-carbides precipitated along austenite/ferrite interfaces. It can be concluded that a proper co-precipitation of Cu-rich particles and κ-carbides would improve the properties of austenite-based Fe-Mn-Al-C steel.
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Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51974184) and the National MCF Energy R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFE0306102). XRD and TEM tests were conducted in the Instrumental Analysis and Research Center at Shanghai University. The authors would like to express sincere thanks for their support.
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Chang-jiang Song Ph.D., Professor. His research interests mainly focus on metal theory and microstructure control, and super performance metastable engineering materials through solidification process control. He has supervised over 20 projects and published more than 100 papers in international journals.
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Chen, Z., Liu, Mx., Zhang, Jk. et al. Effect of annealing treatment on microstructures and properties of austenite-based Fe-28Mn-9Al-0.8C lightweight steel with addition of Cu. China Foundry 18, 207–216 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-021-1026-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-021-1026-6
Key words
- austenite-based steel
- Cu-rich particle
- near-rapid solidification
- co-precipitation strengthening
- annealing treatment