Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of High-Mn TRIP Steel Based on Warm Deformation of Martensite

High-Mn TRIP steel with about 5 wt pct Mn was prepared by a thermo-mechanical treatment based on warm deformation of martensite and subsequent short-time annealing in the intercritical region. The microstructural evolution and the mechanical properties of the used steel during such treatment were investigated. The results indicate that during warm deformation of martensite in the intercritical region, the decomposition of martensite was accelerated by warm deformation and the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization of ferrite led to the formation of equiaxed ferrite grains. Meanwhile, the reverse transformation of austenite was accelerated by warm deformation to some extent. During subsequent annealing in the intercritical region, static recrystallization of ferrite led to the increase in the fraction of equiaxed ferrite grains, and the formation of the reversed austenite was accelerated by the addition of the deformation-stored energy, while the stability of the reversed austenite was improved by the accelerated diffusions of C atoms and Mn atoms. As a whole, the mechanical properties of the used steel by the thermo-mechanical treatment based on warm deformation of martensite and subsequent short-time annealing in the intercritical region were comparable to the steels with similar compositions subjected to intercritical annealing for hours after cold rolling of martensite.