The hot deformation and static softening behavior of various high Mn (20-30 wt%) austenitic steels microalloyed with different V (0.1, 0.2 wt%), C (0.2, 0.6, 1 wt%) and N (0.005-0.025 wt%) contents were investigated. Double-hit torsion tests at temperatures in the range 700-1100 degrees C were carried out and specimens quenched at selected conditions were examined using advanced microscopy techniques (EBSD-TEM) to characterize the recrystallization and strain-induced precipitation behavior. The results show that precipitation of vanadium at the hot working temperature range is sluggish. It mainly occurs for the combinations of 20%Mn-0.6%C-0.2%V and 30%Mn-1%C-0.1%V. When the carbon content is reduced to 0.2%C, strain-induced precipitation is suppressed at typical hot working temperatures, independently of the N level. The flow stress behavior was affected by the amount of C and by modifying the base composition from 30%Mn to 20%Mn-1.5%Al. However, the effect is complex and depends on deformation conditions. In the absence of strain-induced precipitation, the static softening kinetics was accelerated by increasing C content. However, no effect of Mn or V in solid solution was observed. In those cases where strain-induced precipitation took place, static recrystallization was severely delayed, leading to a major contribution of recovery to softening kinetics.

During hot rolling, austenite recrystallization determines the grain size evolution and the extent of strain accumulation, and therefore, it can be used to control the microstructure and improve the mechanical properties of the final product. However, at the moment, experimental data and models describing the recrystallization kinetics of high-Mn steels are scarce, and they do not take into account the effect of the different C and Mn alloying contents usually present in these steels. The aim of this work is to provide a quantitative model for the determination of the static recrystallization kinetics and recrystallized grain size that is valid for a wide range of high-Mn steel compositions. In order to do this, softening data determined in previous works for steels with different Mn (20 to 30%), Al (0 to 1.5%) and C (0.2 to 1%) levels were considered. In addition, new tests were carried out to determine the effect of deformation conditions on the static softening kinetics and the recrystallized grain size. The static recrystallization kinetics of the high-Mn steels follows Avrami's law, with n Avrami exponents which are temperature dependent and lower than those determined for low C steels. A dependence of the 2'0.5 (time for 50% fractional softening) on the carbon content has been observed and it was incorporated into an equation for the calculation of this parameter. An expression that is valid for predicting the recrystallized grain size as a function of deformation conditions is also proposed.

The interaction between recovery, recrystallization, and strain-induced precipitation in two high-Mn steels, one of them microalloyed with Nb (0.1 pct) was investigated using mechanical testing and advanced microscopy techniques. Double-hit torsion tests were carried out in the 1373 K to 1173 K (1100 A degrees C to 900 A degrees C) temperature range in order to characterize the fractional softening behavior. Quenched specimens were analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy to determine the recrystallized fraction, the precipitation state, and the austenite microstructure evolution. At the highest temperature, 1373 K (1100 A degrees C), similar softening kinetics were found in both steels. However, at temperatures lower than 1273 K (1000 A degrees C) for the Nb steel, strain-induced precipitation was observed to take place resulting in significant softening retardation. For the base steel at all the temperatures investigated, and for the Nb steel in the absence of strain-induced precipitation, the mechanical softening corresponded well with the recrystallized fraction. However, when strain-induced precipitation took place, a major deviation was observed denoting a significant contribution of recovery to the fractional softening. Within the deformed grains, a substructure consisting of "subgrain bands" or microbands was developed. The precipitates were found mainly on the elongated subgrain boundaries, or at dislocations within the subgrains. This configuration was maintained after the migration of the recrystallization front. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2015