In Situ Neutron Diffraction Studies of Phase Transformations in Si - Mn TRIP Steel

Abstract

High strength and ductility of the TRIP steels is often attributed to the transformation induced plasticity effect resulting from the strain induced martensitic transformation of the retained austenite in the bainite microstructure. The present work reports results of in-situ neutron diffraction experiments focused on monitoring the phase evolution in two TRIP steel samples (two different thermomechanical treatments) subjected to tensile loading at room temperature. Comparison of the single lineprofile analysis of reactor data (TKSN-400 at NPI Rez) and multi lineprofile analysis of data obtained at spallation neutron source (diffractometer ENGIN-X at ISIS RAL Chilton) suggests that the former can be used in the first approximation for in-situ monitoring of the phase evolution in TRIP steels subjected to mechanical loads.