The effect of annealing on microstructure and microhardness of low-activation high-manganese austenitic steel

N.A. Polekhina, I.Yu. Litovchenko, S.A. Akkuzin ORCID logo , K.V. Spiridonova, A.V. Kim, V.V. Osipova ORCID logo , V.M. Chernov ORCID logo show affiliations and emails
Received 29 November 2023; Accepted 20 February 2024;
Citation: N.A. Polekhina, I.Yu. Litovchenko, S.A. Akkuzin, K.V. Spiridonova, A.V. Kim, V.V. Osipova, V.M. Chernov. The effect of annealing on microstructure and microhardness of low-activation high-manganese austenitic steel. Lett. Mater., 2024, 14(1) 51-56
BibTex   https://doi.org/10.48612/letters/2024-1-51-56

Abstract

The annealing at 700 °C for 50 h leads to noticeable changes of the carbide subsystem of low-activation high manganese austenitic steel. After solution treatment (ST) it causes precipitation of M23C6 particles along the grain boundaries and on the MC particles. Annealing of the cold-rolled (CR) samples leads to the formation of these particles at the microtwin boundaries.The effect of annealing at 700°C for 50 h of solution-treated (ST) and cold-rolled (CR) samples of low-activation high manganese austenitic steel on its phase composition, microstructure and microhardness is investigated. Carbide subsystem of the steel undergoes significant changes following annealing. After ST, it causes precipitation of M23C6 particles along grain boundaries and on MC particles. Annealing of CR samples leads to the formation of these particles at microtwin boundaries. There are practically no changes in the size and volume fraction of MC carbides after annealing. A depletion of the steel solid solution in carbon due to M23C6 carbides precipitation decreases the austenite stability towards the γ-ε martensitic transformation. This leads to the formation of ε-martensite after CR + annealing. The ε-martensite plates are, presumably, formed as a result of relaxation of local internal stresses generated nearby large M23C6 particles during cooling from 700°C. Microhardness of the steel does not practically change after its annealing. This is due to simultaneous processes of recovery and precipitation of dispersed M23C6 carbides. The former process contributes to a decrease in the substructural strengthening efficiency and the latter — to tan increase in the efficiency of dispersion strengthening.

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Funding

1. the Russian Science Foundation - 22-19-00802