Reverse Transformation Behavior in Multi-Phased Medium Mn Martensitic Steel Analyzed by In-Situ Neutron Diffraction

The reverse transformation behavior during heating in Fe-10%Mn-0.1%C (mass%) martensitic alloy consisting of α'-martensite, ε-martensite and retained austenite was investigated using the in-situ neutron diffraction. When the temperature was elevated with a heating rate of 10 K/s, the ε→γ reverse transformation occurred first at the temperature range of 535–712 K, where Fe and Mn hardly diffused. In the temperature range where the ε→γ reverse transformation occurred, the full width at half maximum of the 200γ peak increased, indicating that the austenite reversed from ε-martensite contains high-density dislocations. In addition, the transformation temperature hardly depends on the heating rate and the crystal orientation of the reversed austenite was identical to that of the prior austenite (austenite memory), which suggests that the ε→γ reverse transformation would proceed through the displacive mechanism. After completion of the ε→γ transformation, the α'→γ reverse transformation occurred at the temperature range of 842–950 K. When the heating rate is low (<10 K/s), the reverse transformation start temperature significantly depends on the heating rate. It could be because the diffusional reverse transformation accompanying the repartitioning of Mn occurs. On the other hand, a higher heating rate (≥10 K/s) resulted in the disappearance of the heating rate dependence. This was probably due to the change in the transformation mechanism to the massive-type transformation, which is diffusional transformation without repartitioning of Mn.