Influence of the Addition of Ni on as-Cast Microstructure of Duplex Fe-Mn-Al-C Lightweight Steel

Lightweight Fe-Mn-Al-C steels have low density, and high mechanical properties, which makes them a possibility for weight reduction in vehicles for road transport. In steel production, as-cast microstructure is an important parameter for further processing. The as-cast microstructure of five lightweight duplex steels was investigated: Fe-15Mn-10Al-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-1.7Ni-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-3.9Ni-0.8C, Fe-15Mn-10Al-5.6Ni-0.8C and Fe-15Mn-10Al-8.6Ni-0.8C. The influence of Ni was analysed through thermodynamic calculations and microstructural characterization. The samples were analysed through an optical and electron microscopy. The base microstructure of the studied steel consists of ferrite and austenite. Further investigation showed that the decomposition of austenite was accompanied by the formation of kappa carbides and the B2 ordered phase. The addition of Ni prevented the formation of a lamellar kappa ferrite morphology, but at 5.6 wt.% Ni, the decomposition of austenite was most severe, resulting in a large amount of kappa carbides and a B2 ordered phase.