The effect of compressive deformation of austenite on the Widmanstatten ferrite transformation in Fe-Mn-Si-C steel

The effect of different amounts (10, 20, and 40%) of compressive deformation of austenite on the isothermal transformation of Widmanstatten ferrite has been investigated in Fe-Mn-Si-C alloy steels. The prior deformation of austenite has a strong impact on the Widmanstatten ferrite formation. The results showed that the austenite with higher amount of deformation transformed initially at a higher rate. However, they also indicated that as a higher amount of prior deformation was applied, a smaller quantity of Widmanstatten ferrite was obtained after the isothermal transformation was completed. These results emphasized that the accumulated strain in austenite matrix retarded significantly the growth of Widmanstatten ferrite. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.