Analysis of Texture and Microstructure of Annealed Fe-23Mn-3Si-3Al Steel

Texture and microstructural examinations of Fe-23% Mn-3% Si-3%Al (mass%) alloy are presented. After casting the ingot was homogenized at 1150 degrees C, hot-rolled in the temperature range 1200 degrees C-900 degrees C and then cold-rolled. Steel samples, after 40% deformation, were annealed at 300 degrees C for 10 min, 600 degrees C and 750 degrees C for 30 min. X-ray diffraction and metallographic studies revealed deformation-induced mechanical twinning and phase transformation. The crystallographic Shoji-Nishiyama and Kurdjumov-Sachs relations between martensite (epsilon, alpha') and austenite (gamma), were found in the cold-rolled material. During annealing the reverse martensite to austenite transformation occurred.