The high temperature deformation behavior of a triplex (ferrite+ austenite+ martensite) low density steel

Abstract The present work deals with the high temperature deformation behavior of Fe-11.15Mn-5.6Al-0.07C (wt.%) triplex ferrite-based lightweight steel in the temperature range of 800–1100 °C under the strain rate of 0.001 to 0.1s−1. The compressive high temperature flow curves under the various thermomechanical conditions were accompanied by a considerable fractional softening. According to the detailed microstructural analysis, the observed flow softening was discussed relying on the occurrence of dynamic strain induced transformation and dynamic recrystallization. In this respect, a sine hyperbolic Arrhenius-type constitutive model was developed considering the three dimensional variation of the materials’ constant with strain, strain rate and temperature. This provided a proper condition for accurate assessment of the strain compensation mechanisms. The capability of the modified and un-modified constitutive models in prediction of the high temperature flow behavior of experimented low density steel were compared. According to the verified model, activation energy (Q) maps were developed and discussed in correlation with the characterized microstructure evolutions. The Q-plots were divided into three domains and a transition range was recognized at ~1100–1250 K, the extent of which decreased with increasing imposed strain. The low energy domains were attributed to the (i) activation of load transition as an effective strain compensation mechanism and the occurrence of dynamic austenite to ferrite transformation, and (ii) the high dislocation annihilation rate at high temperatures.