Microstructure and Texture Evolution in a High Manganes Austenitic Steel During Tensile Test

The evolution of microstructure and texture in a Fe-22wt%Mn-0.6C% steel during plastic deformation was studied by interrupted tensile tests at plastic strain levels ranging from 5 to 40% at 10(-3) s(-1). The steel present in as-received condition a fully recrystallized austenitic microstructure and almost random texture. A microstructural analysis of deformed samples reveals the presence of thin bands. As no martensite was detected by X-ray diffraction, these striations must correspond to deformation twins. The amount of twins increases progressively with plastic strain. At lower deformation, these bands are parallel and start and terminate at the grain boundaries. As the strain level increases, the number of the twins band increases and they intersect each other. This evolution of the microstructure is accompanied by the appearance a fiber texture with the < 111 > and < 100 > directions parallel to the tensile direction