Effect of Thermomechanical Processing on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Medium Mn Steel Sheet with Nb Addition
摘要
The microstructural development of a medium Mn steel during hot rolling and intercritical annealing was studied. It was found that after hot rolling the microstructure was composed almost completely of lath martensite with a very small amount of austenite. After that, the material was subjected to 700 and 780°C for 1, 2, and 5 h. It was found that the microstructure of the steel after intercritical annealing treatments was composed of ferrite/martensite and austenite, this last phase exhibited a content that varied from 10 to 25 wt.%. In addition, it was found the presence of NbC precipitates by applying an electrochemical extraction procedure. The best mechanical properties in terms of ultimate tensile strength and elongation were obtained in the steel treated at 700°C while a brittle behavior (low elongation) was observed both in the hot rolled condition and after annealing at 780°C.