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Effect of Annealing on Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Cold Deformed Low-Density Multi-principal-Element High-Strength Alloys

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Abstract

In this work, the microstructure, and mechanical properties of cold-rolled low-density multi-principal-element Fe-30Mn-10Al-1.57C-2.3Cr-0.3Si-0.6Ti (wt.%) specimens were systematically investigated by annealing under different conditions. The microstructural evolution and strengthening mechanism were also examined. Results from x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses confirmed that carbides were composed of TiC and κ-carbides. As the annealing temperature increased, both the volume fraction of κ-carbides and yield strength (YS) of the alloys decreased. TEM images indicated a pile-up of dislocations around carbides and boundary of twins. The increase in annealing temperature to 450 °C led to best mechanical properties of specimens with σ0.2% = 1270.28 MPa, Rm = 1318.67 MPa, and ε = 19.47%. Moreover, YS decreased by 9.28% and TE increased by 192.78%. Notably, the density of the as-obtained alloy reached 6.58 g/cm3, a value 15.6% lower than that of conventional steel. In sum, these findings are promising for future applications of low-density alloys.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National major research instrument development project (Grant No. 52127808). The authors would like to thank Dr. B.H. Chen, Dr. P.F. Ji, and Dr. B. Li for help and guidance with writing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Railway Construction Group Co. Ltd., Bei**g, China

    F. Wang, Z. Z. Qian, H. W. Fang, D. X. Zhou & L. Q. Hou

  2. State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China

    F. Wang, Z. L. An, X. Y. Zhang, M. Z. Ma, Y. X. Guo & R. P. Liu

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  1. F. Wang
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Wang, F., An, Z.L., Qian, Z.Z. et al. Effect of Annealing on Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Cold Deformed Low-Density Multi-principal-Element High-Strength Alloys. J. of Materi Eng and Perform (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-023-08465-5

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