Microstructure Evolution and Age-Hardening Behavior of Microalloyed Austenitic Fe-30Mn-9Al-0.9C Light-Weight Steels

The aging behavior and mechanical properties of microalloyed austenitic Fe-30Mn-9Al-0.9C light-weight steels were investigated through transmission electron microscopy analysis, electron backscatter diffraction analysis, tensile tests, and Vickers hardness tests. The base steels were aged at 823 K (550 °C) for up to 10,000 minutes. The true stress–strain responses of solution-treated samples before aging showed that the addition of Nb and/or V improved the strength by grain refinement and precipitation hardening. During the process of tensile deformation, the strain-hardening rate of Fe-30Mn-9Al-0.9C steel steadily increased due to the microband-induced plasticity (MBIP) from the onset of plastic deformation to ε = 25 pct, while such behavior was weakened and not observed in Nb- and/or V-added steels despite MBIP. In the early stage of aging, the Vickers hardness gradually increased with an increase in the aging time due to the precipitation of κ-carbide of (Fe,Mn)₃AlC and remained stagnant between the aging times of 1000 and 3000 minutes. The hardness increased again after 3000 minutes due to the formation of ferrite and brittle β-Mn.