Tailoring the Austenite Fraction of a Cu and Ni Containing Medium-Mn Steel via Warm Rolling

Developing medium-Mn steels (MMnS) demands a better understanding of the microstructure evolution during thermo-mechanical treatments (TMTs). This study demonstrates relationship among processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties warm-rolled steel containing 1.5 wt. % Cu Ni. After short-time warm rolling (WR) in an intercritical temperature range, significant quantity (40.6 vol.%) austenite was reverted retained after air cooling. The tensile WR specimens were compared with two typical process routes, namely hot rolling+ cold annealing+ tempering (CRAT) (WRAT). specimen exhibited comparable CRAT (967 MPa yield strength, 1155 23% total elongation), remarkably shortened route, which derived from dislocation accumulation reversion rolling. route stands out traditional extended WRAT routes for its excellent compact processing route.