Effects of cerium addition on the microstructure, mechanical properties and strain hardening behavior of TWIP steel Fe-18Mn-0.6C

The effects of cerium (Ce) on the microstructure, mechanical properties and strain hardening behavior Fe-18Mn-0.6C twin-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel were investigated by electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray diffraction transmission microscopy. Compared with addition Al, Ce significantly reduced stacking fault energy TWIP steel, which promotes formation deformation annealing twins. dynamic aging was inhibited Al atoms during plastic deformation. optimal obtained when 0.015 wt% added, resulting in a tensile strength 1023 MPa; an elongation 92%. interaction twin variants Ce-containing alloys exhibited X shape, different from T shape non-Ce containing alloy. This is mainly attributed to fact that dislocations near grain boundaries, where for nucleation twins at boundaries favored. T-shaped variants, Hall-Petch effect caused X-shaped staggered stronger, improved ability steel.