Effect of strain rate on deformation behavior of TRIP steels

Tensile deformation behavior of Si–Mn TRIP (TRansformation Induced Plasticity) steel with vanadium and without vanadium and the DP (Dual Phase) steel of the same composition were studied in a large range of strain rate (0.001–2000 s−1) by routine material testing machine, rotation disk bar–bar tensile impact apparatus and high-speed material testing machine of servo-hydraulic type. In situ measurement of the transformation of retained austenite was performed by means of X-ray stress apparatus in order to have detailed knowledge about the transformation of retained austenite at quasi-static tensile. Microstructure of steels before and after tensile were observed by means of optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). It is shown that there is no yield plateau observed on the stress–strain curve at quasi-static condition for TRIP steel containing vanadium because the vanadium carbide suppress the formation of Cottrell atmosphere in matrix. Retained austenite of Si–Mn TRIP steel containing vanadium transforms to martensite at loading stress of 502 MPa (its yielding strength is 486 MPa), while the transformation of retained austenite in matrix of Si–Mn TRIP steel without vanadium happens when its yielding process is finished at quasi-static tensile. It is confirmed that phase transformation of retained austenite in TRIP steel is strain induced phase transformation. It is noted that tensile elongation of TRIP steel at dynamic tensile is always lower than that at quasi-static tensile. That is because gradually strain induced phase transformation of retained austenite in TRIP steel is suppressed by deformation localization at dynamic tensile.