The significance of multi-step partitioning: Processing-structure-property relationship in governing high strength-high ductility combination in medium-manganese steels

Intercritical annealing, flash process and tempering were innovatively combined to obtain high strength-high ductility combination in 0.12C–4.89Mn-1.57Al steel. The process referred as multi-step partitioning (MSP) was designed to accomplish the following objectives: (a) enrichment of austenite with Mn to enhance the stability of retained austenite, (b) transformation hardening during quenching in the flash process and (c) stress relaxation and...