Microstructural Evolution and Deformation Behaviors of Fe–<scp>M</scp>n–<scp>A</scp>l–<scp>C</scp> Steels with Different Stacking Fault Energies

Abstract

In the present work, Fe–26Mn– x Al–1C steels with different Al concentrations (3, 6, 10, and 12%) in a stacking fault energy range of 37–96 mJ m −2 were investigated. The results showed the microstructure was fully austenitic when Al concentrations were 3 and 6%; while it consisted of austenite phase and carbides when the Al concentration was over 10% and there appeared ferrite when the Al concentration was 12%. All steels manifested continuous yielding and the yield strength increased as Al concentration increased. Microstructure observation revealed that deformation mechanisms and strain hardening behaviors were quite different for the steels with different stacking fault energies.