On the Mechanical Stability of Austenite Matrix After Martensite Formation in a Medium Mn Steel

The present work employs the nanoindentation technique to investigate the effect of prior martensite formation on the mechanical stability of a retained austenite matrix. It is found that the small austenite grains that were surrounded by martensite laths have higher mechanical stability than the large austenite grains that were free of martensite laths. The higher mechanical stability of small austenite grains is due to its higher amount of defects resulting from the prior martensite formation. These defects act as barriers for the later martensite formation and therefore contribute to the higher mechanical stability of small austenite grains. As a result, the present work suggests that the formation of martensite tends to stabilize the surrounding austenite matrix. Therefore, it may explain the lower transformed amount of martensite after quenching as compared to the theoretical calculation using the Koistinen and Marburger (K–M) equation.