Effect of deformation in the intercritical area on the grain refinement of retained austenite of 0.4C trip steel

• Published in: Scripta materialia Vol. 40; no. 9; pp. 1003 - 1008
• Main Authors: Basuki, Arif, Aernoudt, Etienne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 09.04.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Other heat and thermomechanical treatments; Physics; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Grain size; Retained austenite; Grain refining; Hot rolling; Austenite; Carbon steels; Mechanical properties; Thermomechanical treatments; Steels; Experimental study; Microstructure
• ISSN: 1359-6462; 1872-8456
• DOI: 10.1016/S1359-6462(98)00496-5

The increasing volume fraction of ferrite evidenced in this work confirms that reconstructive transformation (ferrite formation) is accelerated by plastic deformation of parent phases, whereas the decreasing volume fraction of bainite demonstrates that bainite formation characterized by IPS shape deformation is mechanically stabilizing the remaining austenite. The present study proves the stabilization of retained austenite shown by an increase in volume fraction and its carbon content, as a result of deformation in the intercritical area. The grain refinement of retained austenite is a consequence of the increasing density and type of ferrite nucleation sites and the stabilization of residual austenite against bainitic transformation.