Superplastic deformation behavior of low Al–added medium Mn steels with and without Ti and Mo elements

Abstract Fe-Mn-Al-C medium Mn steels were found to reveal extraordinary superplasticity and have significant potential for forming the complex structural parts due to high strength, excellent ductility and material cost. In present study, the effect of tensile deformation temperature on the superplastic deformation behavior of a cold-rolled low Al-added medium Mn steel was studied. A maximum tensile elongation of approximately 1170% was obtained at 745 °C and 10−2 s−1, which is to our best knowledge the highest low-temperature-high-strain-rate superplasticity in medium Mn steels. Also, the role mechanism of microalloying elements such as Ti and Mo was revealed to further enhance the strength level of superplastic medium Mn steels. In view of the representative microstructural features, such as equiaxed grains, random texture, and sluggish grain growth, grain boundary sliding is thought to be the dominative mechanism during the high-strain-rate superplastic deformation.