Dislocation substructures in tensile deformed Fe–Mn–Al–C steel

Abstract Microstructure of a Fe–25Mn–2Al–0.1C steel studied under uniaxial tension revealed a gradually decreasing three-stage strain hardening behavior. Early deformation microstructure comprised of dislocations configurations; like Taylor lattice and stair-rod dislocations. Deformation twinning nucleated in regions lacking homogenous dislocation substructure. Dislocations cells and fine twin bundles were observed near failure strain. The strain hardening was a concomitant effect of deformation twins and dislocation substructure, while the contribution of dislocations seems to overwhelm the contribution from twinning.