Microstructure and tensile properties of a 0.20C–4.86Mn steel after short intercritical-annealing times

This work studies the microstructure and tensile properties of a cold-rolled Fe–0.20C–4.86Mn (mass %) steel after short intercritical annealing (IA) times using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and uniaxial tensile tests. The short IA time is applied to represent the process characteristics of the industrial continuous annealing line. The experimental results show that IA temperature has a strong influence on the final microstructure and tensile properties while IA time has less. The fractions of retained austenite are much higher after IA at 650 and 675°C than the other IA temperatures, and thus improving elongation. Simulations using the DICTRA software and constitutive modelling are further performed to assist the understanding of the microstructure evolution and stress–strain curves.