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Microstructure Evolution on the Surface of Fe-20Mn-6Al-0.6C-0.15Si Austenitic Low-Density Steel during Heat Treatment

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Abstract

Microstructure evolution on the surface of Fe-20Mn-6Al-0.6C-0.15Si austenitic low-density steel was studied by comparing with the microstructure at the core. In the present study, the austenite grain growth was in situ observed using laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). The microstructure of specimens on surface and at core was analyzed after LSCM experiments. The distribution of Mn and Al along axial direction was analyzed. The results show that the volatilization of Mn on the specimen surface during isothermal holding at high temperatures varying from 900 to 1200 °C results in a low stability of the austenite on the specimen surface, leading to the transformation of less stable austenite to ferrite during subsequent cooling process. The ferrite fraction on the specimen surface increases with isothermal temperature, indicating more Mn volatilization at higher temperature. In addition, because Mn volatilizes during isothermal holding at high temperatures, the austenite grain growth on the surface is different from that at the core.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U20A20270), the Joint Development Project from Lianyuan Iron and Steel Company Limited (2020-13#) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M722486). We would like to thank Dr. Zhen Wang at the Analytical & Testing Center of Wuhan University of Science and Technology for the help on EBSD analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Qi Zhang, Guanghui Chen, Yiping Shen, Zhengliang Xue & Guang Xu

  2. Key Laboratory for Ferrous Metallurgy and Resources Utilization of Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Qi Zhang, Guanghui Chen, Yiping Shen, Zhengliang Xue & Guang Xu

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  1. Qi Zhang
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Zhang, Q., Chen, G., Shen, Y. et al. Microstructure Evolution on the Surface of Fe-20Mn-6Al-0.6C-0.15Si Austenitic Low-Density Steel during Heat Treatment. J. of Materi Eng and Perform (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-023-08803-7

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