Evaluation of in-situ deformation experiments of TRIP steel

The paper reports on the behaviour of low alloyed TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel with Niobium during tensile test. The structures were analysed using in-situ tensile testing coupled with electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis carried out in scanning electron microscope (SEM). Steel specimens were of same chemical composition; however three different annealing temperatures, 800 degrees C, 850 degrees C and 950 degrees C, were applied to the material during the heat treatment. The treatment consisted of annealing for 20 minutes in the furnace; cooling in salt bath after the heating and holding at 425 degrees C for 20 minutes for all the samples. Untreated bar was used as reference material. Flat samples for deformation stage were cut out of the heat-treated bars. In situ documentation of microstructure and crystallography development were carried out during the deformation experiments. High deformation lead to significant degradation of EBSD signal.