Stability and mechanical properties of some metastable austenitic steels

The relation between austenite stability and the tensile properties, as affected by testing temperature and processing, was studied for a series of alloys of increasing compositional complexity, viz., the Fe-Ni, Fe-Ni-C, and Fe-Ni-Cr-Mn-C systems. The “stress” and “strain induced” modes of transformation to martensite differed significantly in their influence on the shape of the stress-strain curve. Under certain testing conditions, unusually low yield strengths and high work hardening rates were observed in some of these alloys. Maxima in yield strengths were observed for all austenitic alloys containing carbon that were processed at deformation temperatures between 200° and 300°C. Evidence gleaned from electron microscopy and magnetic and mechanical testing suggested that the maxima were due to the formation of carbon atmospheres on dislocations during processing. The influence of austenite stability on the mechanical properties of steels, varied by systematic changes in test temperature (22° to -196°C), composition (8 pct, 12 pct, 16 pct, and 21 pct Ni) and deformation temperature (25° to 450°C), was evaluated quantitatively. An erratum to this article is available at .