Recrystallization in a low-density low-alloy Fe-Mn-Al-C duplex-phase alloy

The recrystallization behaviour of a cold-rolled, low-density, low-alloy duplex-phase alloy (Fe-6.57Al-3.34Mn-0.18C, wt.%) has been studied. Temperature-resolved X-ray diffraction and dilatometry showed that the alloy recrystallizes at 850 degrees C during continuous heating. However, electron back-scattered diffraction investigations using Kernel average misorientation revealed that during annealing ferrite recrystallizes at lower temperatures while austenite remains strained up to 1200 degrees C. This study underlines the complexity of recrystallization of a microstructure comprising of constituents with high and low stacking fault energy.