Effect of microalloying elements (Nb, V and Ti) on the hot flow behavior of high-Mn austenitic twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steel

This research work studies the effect of microalloying elements such as Nb, V and Ti on the hot flow behavior of high-Mn austenitic TWIP steel. For this purpose, isothermal uniaxial hot compression tests were carried out at three temperatures (900, 1000 and 1100 degrees C) and four constant strain rates (10(-1), 10(-2), 10(-3) and 10(-4) s(-1)). Experimental results revealed that hot flow curves of microalloyed TWIP steels show single peak curves for all test conditions. Results are discussed in terms of the peak stress (sigma(p)) and peak strain (epsilon(p)) and its dependence on the strain rate ((epsilon) over dot) and temperature. The addition of microalloying elements such as Nb, V and Ti in TWIP steels generates a slight increase in the sigma(p) value, and Ti microalloyed TWIP steel exhibits the highest sigma(p) value. Hot deformed microstructures were analyzed by the Electron Back-Scattering Diffraction Technique (EBSD). The most important results of the austenitic recrystallized grain refinement were obtained for V and Ti microalloyed TWIP steels. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.