Flow Behavior and Microstructure of Hot-Worked Fe-30.9Mn-4.9Al-4.5Cr-0.4C and Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C Low-Density Stainless Steels

Two as-cast low-density steels grades (austenite-based duplex Fe-30.9Mn-4.9Al-4.5Cr-0.4C and austenitic Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C) with an initial dendritic microstructure were subjected to hot working conditions understand the influence of deformation parameters on flow behavior microstructural evolution. The alloys produced using electric arc melting, their phase constituents determined optical microscopy X-ray diffraction analysis. This was then corroborated predicted from Thermo-Calc simulation. machined 10 × 7 mm specimen configurations for rectangular axial testing Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator. samples deformed a total strain 0.5 at different temperatures (800, 900, 1000 °C) rates (0.1 5 s−1). Thereafter, hardness test conducted samples, post-deformed microstructures analyzed scanning electron microscopes. results showed that alloys’ structures effectively transformed below °C regardless rate. At all conditions, peak stress Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C alloy least 50% higher than owing carbon content in stainless steel. superior which indicates reconstitution grain refinement alloys. Dynamic recrystallization, dynamic globularization, recovery influenced softening process changes observed under conditions.