Effects of Tensile Testing Temperature on Mechanical Properties and Deformation Behavior in Medium Mn Steels

In single-phase austenitic steels, the optimum deformation temperature in the tensile test to obtain high tensile strength-elongation balance (TS×El) and work hardening rate (dσ/dε) depends on control of the stability of austenite. In order to clarify the effects of the deformation temperature in complex phase steels containing austenite, in this study, the effects of the tensile testing temperature on mechanical properties and deformation behavior were investigated in detail using steel A and steel B with a chemical composition of 0.15C-0.5Si-5.0Mn (wt%). Steels A and B consisted of ferrite and retained austenite, but contained different volume fractions of retained austenite, namely, 29 % and 17 % as a result of annealing at 660 °C and 620 °C for 2 h, respectively. The stability of the retained austenite of steel B was higher than that of steel A. In steel A, TS×El and dσ/dε achieved their maximum values at 20 °C, decreased from 20 to 100 °C, and then remained almost unchanged at more than 150 °C. On the other hand, in steel B, TS×El and dσ/dε achieved their maximum values at -40 °C, decreased from -40 to 50 °C and remained almost unchanged at more than 100 °C. These results can be explained by the stability of retained austenite and the transformation rate from retained austenite to martensite. It should be noted that control of the stability of retained austenite and the transformation rate from retained austenite to martensite led to an adjustment of the optimum deformation temperature to achieve the high TS×El and dσ/dε in medium Mn steels, in the same manner as in single-phase austenitic steels.