Effect of Finishing Rolling Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Microalloyed Trip Steels

Different samples of TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel obtained by two different hot-rolling schedules are investigated by using a SEM (scanning electron microscope). The microstructure is characterized by using an OM (optical microscope) for phase distribution and by EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) for texture and phase mapping. ODF (orientation distribution function) graphs are used to investigate the effect of recrystallization behavior of the hot-deformed austenite on phase transformation during the controlled cooling process. The mechanical behavior is interpreted in terms of the strength of both hard and soft phases, in combination with the quantity, location and transformation kinetics of the mechanically induced martensite (TRIP effect). The results show that more austenite grains exist in the steels obtained at finishing rolling temperature (FRT) of 750 °C, which inherited the deformation structure after the hot-rolling process. The instantaneous n value (ni) of those steels is kept high during a large range of strain before failure, while the tensile strength and total elongation of the steels with respect to the different finishing rolling temperatures do not show any significant differences.