The influence of Mn content on microstructure and damping capacity in Fe–(17∼23)%Mn alloys

This study is aimed to investigate the microstructural evolution with respect to Mn content and its contribution to the damping capacity in Fe–(17∼23)%Mn alloys. The volume fraction of ε martensite in these alloys increases with decreasing Mn content and cooling temperature, which gives rise to the increase of damping capacity. For the same amount of ε martensite, the higher the Mn content, the lower the damping capacity. The microstructural examinations and tensile tests have revealed that the decrease in values of stacking fault density in ε martensite and γ austenite, length of γ/ε interface in unit area, and mobility of γ/ε interface, is responsible for the deterioration of damping capacity.