Excellent strength-ductility synergy in a novel medium manganese steel containing 2.4Al-2.9Mn-4.1Ni realized through limited thermo-mechanical processing steps

In this study, the effect of microstructural and micro-textural evolution on tensile properties in hot forged (HF) and hot rolled (HR) medium-Mn steel containing ∼4 wt% Ni is systematically investigated. The microstructures of HF and HR specimens comprise of martensite (α’), nanosized NiAl (B2) precipitates and retained austenite (RA). The excellent tensile properties in HF and HR specimens have been achieved through minimal thermomechanical processing routes. The HR specimen exhibits better strength (∼1868 ± 69 MPa), and ductility (∼16.5 ± 1%) as compared to the HF specimen (∼1765 ± 32 MPa, and ∼12 ± 2%). The prior austenite grain (PAG) size of HR specimen is lower than HF, leading to lower width of lath martensite which contributes to achieving higher strength in the former specimen. Apart from the lath width, the presence of twin martensite along with RA, higher fraction of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs), and ∑3 boundaries improve the strength-ductility synergy in HR specimen as compared to HF condition. The development of higher intensity γ-fiber //ND during hot rolling has resulted in better ductility in HR specimen, whereas the presence of high intensity Cube texture {001} has deteriorated the tensile properties of HF specimen. Further, visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) simulation has been carried out to understand the influence of primary {110} and secondary {112} slip systems activation on strain hardening response of the specimens. It has been observed that the higher activation of primary slip system {110} in HR specimen leads to better strain hardening response at stage IV as compared to HF specimen. [Display omitted] •HF and HR specimens comprise of martensite, retained austenite and NiAl.•HR specimen exhibits superior strength-ductility synergy than the HF one.•Twin martensite, dislocation cells and γ-fiber improve tensile properties in HR.•Higher activity of {110} slip system improves strain hardening in HR.•Higher lath martensite width and lesser Σ3 fraction reduce tensile properties in HF.