The effects of austenite phase deformation on microstructure and magnetic properties in Fe–13.4%Mn–5.2%Mo alloy

The effects of austenite phase deformation on martensitic transformations and magnetic properties in Fe–13.4%Mn–5.2%Mo have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Mössbauer Spectroscopy. The increase of plastic deformation rates on austenite phase created considerable changes in amounts of ε (h.c.p.) and α′(b.c.c.) martensite, and austenite grains size decreased. Analysis of microstructure and Mössbauer spectra show that the amount of ε martensite increased at low deformation rates whereas it decreased at high deformation rate. Besides, Mössbauer spectra of the alloy reveal a ferromagnetic character with a broad sextet for α′ martensite phase and a paramagnetic character with a singlet for the γ (f.c.c.) austenite and ε martensite phases. In the other hand, the magnetic character of the alloy exhibits a different magnetic order depending on strain rates.