Retained austenite stability investigation in TRIP steel using neutron diffraction

In situ neutron diffraction experiment was employed for monitoring of conditioned austenite transformation to ferrite, and also for the retained austenite stability evaluation during subsequent mechanical loading. The progress in the austenite decomposition to ferrite is monitored at different transformation temperatures. The relevant information on the course of the transformation is extracted from neutron diffraction spectra. The useful information was also obtained on the retained austenite stability in the TRIP steel during mechanical testing. The in situ neutron diffraction experiments were conducted at two different diffractometers to assess the reliability of the neutron diffraction technique at monitoring the transformation of the retained austenite during room temperature tensile testing. In both experiments the neutron investigation was focused on the volume fraction quantification of the retained austenite as well as on internal stresses rising in structure phases due to the retained austenite transformation.