Correlation of austenite stability and ductile-to-brittle transition behavior of high-nitrogen 18Cr–10Mn austenitic steels

► In high-nitrogen austenitic steels, ductile-to-brittle transition occurs. ► Some metastable austenites in the steels are transformed to α′-martensite. ► Deformation-induced martensite transformation decreases low-temperature toughness. ► Reduction of austenite stability increases ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. Ductile-to-brittle transition behavior of high-nitrogen 18Cr–10Mn austenitic steels containing different contents of Ni, Mo, Cu as well as nitrogen is discussed in terms of austenite stability and associated deformation-induced martensitic transformation (DIMT). Electron back-scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses of cross-sectional area of the Charpy impact specimens fractured at −196 °C indicated that the brittle fracture planes were almost parallel to one of {1 1 1} slip planes and some metastable austenites near the fracture surface were transformed to α′-martensite by localized plastic deformation occurring during crack propagation. Quantitative evaluation of deformation-induced martensite together with characteristics of true stress–strain and load–displacement curves obtained from tensile and Charpy impact tests, respectively, supported that DIMT might take place in high-nitrogen austenitic steels with relatively low austenite stability. The occurrence of DIMT decreased low-temperature toughness and thus increased largely ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT), as compared to that predicted by empirical equations strongly depending on nitrogen content. As a result, the increased DBTT could be reasonably correlated with austenite stability against DIMT.