Microstructure and Constitutive Equation of Hot Compressive Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C Low-Density Steel

The hot deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel in the as-cast state was investigated via hot compression experiments over temperature and strain rate ranges of 925 to 1150 degrees C and 0.01 to 10 s(-1), respectively. A constitutive equation and a critical DRX model of the Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel were also constructed. The results showed that higher strain rates resulted in significant work hardening and subsequent rapid softening of the Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel, while lower strain rates resulted in predominantly steady-state flow behavior. The activation energy of deformation for the Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel was Q = 540 kJ mol(-1) and the stress index was n = 4. The hot deformation mechanism was solute dragging and dislocation climbing, which was controlled by the strain rate. Increasing the deformation temperature or strain rate reduced the critical stress value sigma(c) of the DRX of the Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel and contributed to the DRX of austenite and delta-ferrite. The Fe-15Mn-15Al-5Ni-1C low-density steel after the hot compression deformation was mainly composed of austenite, ferrite, and kappa carbide phases.