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<p>This study explores the impact of various heat treatment schedules—intercritical annealing (IA), intermediate quenching (IQ), and step quenching (SQ)—on the microstructure, mechanical performance, texture, anisotropy, and fracture behavior of a hot-rolled medium-Mn transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel. The steel, with 3.85% Mn and 1.8% Al, was hot-rolled and subjected to each treatment to tailor its phase composition and mechanical characteristics. Microstructural analysis revealed that IA and IQ cycles produced lath-like martensite/retained austenite (M/RA) embedded in ferrite matrix. At the same time, the SQ sample lacked RA and showed a dual-phase ferrite-martensite structure. The IQ-treated sample demonstrated improved ductility, with the finer M/RA islands promoting a more gradual TRIP effect, whereas the IA sample exhibited a better combination of strength and ductility. Texture analysis indicated that IA retained the initial rolling texture, while IQ led to significant texture randomization. R-value measurements showed higher anisotropy in the IA sample and better formability in the IQ-treated steel. Overall, it was found that IA treatment is optimal for maximizing the energy absorption, whereas IQ treatment improves sheet formability due to its lower anisotropy. This work provides comparative insights into processing-structure-property relationships in medium-Mn TRIP steels, offering guidance for automotive applications requiring both high strength and formability.</p>

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Improving the mechanical properties and formability of hot-rolled medium Mn steel through heat treatment process modulation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月1日

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  • H. Ashrafi,
  • M. Karimi,
  • N. Saeidi

摘要

This study explores the impact of various heat treatment schedules—intercritical annealing (IA), intermediate quenching (IQ), and step quenching (SQ)—on the microstructure, mechanical performance, texture, anisotropy, and fracture behavior of a hot-rolled medium-Mn transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel. The steel, with 3.85% Mn and 1.8% Al, was hot-rolled and subjected to each treatment to tailor its phase composition and mechanical characteristics. Microstructural analysis revealed that IA and IQ cycles produced lath-like martensite/retained austenite (M/RA) embedded in ferrite matrix. At the same time, the SQ sample lacked RA and showed a dual-phase ferrite-martensite structure. The IQ-treated sample demonstrated improved ductility, with the finer M/RA islands promoting a more gradual TRIP effect, whereas the IA sample exhibited a better combination of strength and ductility. Texture analysis indicated that IA retained the initial rolling texture, while IQ led to significant texture randomization. R-value measurements showed higher anisotropy in the IA sample and better formability in the IQ-treated steel. Overall, it was found that IA treatment is optimal for maximizing the energy absorption, whereas IQ treatment improves sheet formability due to its lower anisotropy. This work provides comparative insights into processing-structure-property relationships in medium-Mn TRIP steels, offering guidance for automotive applications requiring both high strength and formability.