Journals / Türk Doğa ve Fen Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1

The role of tempering conditions and Cr content on the microstructure and mechanical performance of 0.16C-5.5Mn steel

Temperleme koşullarının ve Cr içeriğinin 0.16C-5.5Mn çeliğinin mikroyapısı ve mekanik performansındaki rolü

Fatih Demir(BATMAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3239-4641
Mehmet Eroğlu(FIRAT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5097-1943
Pages
1–16
Publication Date
2026-03-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

When all these results were correlated with the data obtained from mechanical tests, it was observed that tempering treatment at low temperatures and Cr content in the steel composition significantly improved the combination of tensile strength and total elongation (TS×TE) of 0.16C-5.5Mn medium manganese steel.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In this paper, the role of tempering conditions and Cr content on the microstructure and mechanical performance of 0.16C-5.5Mn medium manganese steel is discussed.
📊
Key Findings & Data:For this purpose, various analyses were applied to 0.16C-5.5Mn steels with 0% Cr and 1.2% Cr content for microstructural characterization.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:When all these results were correlated with the data obtained from mechanical tests, it was observed that tempering treatment at low temperatures and Cr content in the steel composition significantly improved the combination of tensile strength and total elongation (TS×TE) of 0.16C-5.5Mn medium manganese steel.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Temperleme · Cr içeriği · Kalıntı östenit

Abstract

In this paper, the role of tempering conditions and Cr content on the microstructure and mechanical performance of 0.16C-5.5Mn medium manganese steel is discussed. For this purpose, various analyses were applied to 0.16C-5.5Mn steels with 0% Cr and 1.2% Cr content for microstructural characterization. The results obtained showed that the tempering process produced a microstructure consisting of ferrite and fine acicular carbides dispersed in the tempered martensite matrix in 0.16C-5.5Mn steel. It was also observed that the retained austenite phase persisted in the microstructure after tempering. In addition, the Cr content in 0.16C-5.5Mn steel improved the stability of the retained austenite phase after tempering. When all these results were correlated with the data obtained from mechanical tests, it was observed that tempering treatment at low temperatures and Cr content in the steel composition significantly improved the combination of tensile strength and total elongation (TS×TE) of 0.16C-5.5Mn medium manganese steel.

Özet

Bu makalede, temperleme koşullarının ve Cr içeriğinin 0.16C-5.5Mn orta manganlı çeliğinin mikroyapısı ve mekanik performansındaki rolü ele alınmıştır. Bu amaçla imal edilen %0 Cr ve %1.2 Cr içerikli 0.16C-5.5Mn çeliklerine mikroyapı karakterizasyonu amacıyla çeşitli analizler uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar temperleme işleminin 0.16C-5.5Mn çeliğinde temperlenmiş martenzit matrisinde dağılmış ferrit ve ince iğnemsi karbürlerden oluşan bir mikroyapı meydana getirdiğini göstermiştir. Ayrıca, kalıntı östenit fazının temperleme sonrasında da mikroyapıda varlığını sürdürdüğü görülmüştür. Ek olarak, 0.16C-5.5Mn çeliğindeki Cr içeriği kalıntı östenit fazının temperleme sonrasındaki kararlılığını geliştirmiştir. Tüm bu sonuçlar mekanik testlerden elde edilen veriler ile ilişkilendirildiğinde, düşük sıcaklıklardaki temperleme işleminin ve çelik bileşimindeki Cr içeriğinin 0.16C-5.5Mn orta manganlı çeliğinin çekme mukavemeti ile toplam uzama (TS×TE) kombinasyonunu belirgin bir şekilde geliştirdiği gözlemlenmiştir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Demir, F., Eroğlu, M. (2026). The role of tempering conditions and Cr content on the microstructure and mechanical performance of 0.16C-5.5Mn steel. Türk Doğa ve Fen Dergisi, Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.46810/tdfd.1740022

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (63)

  1. Kwiatkowski da Silva A, Inden G, Kumar A, Ponge D, Gault B, Raabe D. Competition between formation of carbides and reversed austenite during tempering of a medium-manganese steel studied by thermodynamic-kinetic simulations and atom probe tomography. Acta Mater. 2018;147:165-175. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2018.01.022
  2. Arlazarov A, Hazotte A, Bouaziz O, Gouné M, Kegel F. Characterization of microstructure formation and mechanical behaviour of an advanced Medium-Mn steel, in Conf. Proc. Materials Science & Technology (). Pittsburgh: MS&T; 2012. p. 1124–1131.
  3. Arlazarov A, Gouné M, Bouaziz O, Hazotte A, Petitgand G, Barges P. Evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties of medium Mn steels during double annealing. Mater Sci Eng A. 2012;542:31-39. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2012.02.024
  4. Lee YK, Han J. Current opinion in medium manganese steel. Mater Sci Technol (United Kingdom). 2015;31(7):843-856. doi:10.1179/1743284714Y.0000000722
  5. Rana R. Special issue on ‘Medium manganese steels.’ Mater Sci Technol (United Kingdom). 2019;35(17):2039-2044. doi:10.1080/02670836.2019.1673971
  6. Tsukataimi I, Hashimoto S, Inoue T. Effects of Silicon and Manganese Addition on Mechanical Properties of High-strength Hot-rolled Sheet Steel Containing Retained Austenite. ISIJ Int. 1991;31(9):992-1000. doi:10.2355/isijinternational.31.992
  7. Hashimoto S, Ikeda S, Sugimoto KI, Miyake S. Effects of Nb and Mo addition to 0.2%C-1.5%Si-1.5%Mn steel on mechanical properties of hot rolled TRIP-aided steel sheets. ISIJ Int. 2004;44(9):1590-1598. doi:10.2355/isijinternational.44.1590
  8. Cao WQ, Wang C, Shi J, Wang MQ, Hui WJ, Dong H. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe-0.2C-5Mn steel processed by ART-annealing. Mater Sci Eng A. 2011;528(22-23):6661-6666. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2011.05.039
  9. Cai M, Li Z, Chao Q, Hodgson PD. A Novel Mo and Nb Microalloyed Medium Mn TRIP Steel with Maximal Ultimate Strength and Moderate Ductility. Metall Mater Trans A Phys Metall Mater Sci. 2014;45(12):5624-5634. doi:10.1007/s11661-014-2504-x
  10. Cai MH, Zhu WJ, Stanford N, Pan LB, Chao Q, Hodgson PD. Dependence of deformation behavior on grain size and strain rate in an ultrahigh strength-ductile Mn-based TRIP alloy. Mater Sci Eng A. 2016;653:35-42. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2015.11.103
  11. Siciliano F, Poliak EI. Modeling of the Resistance to Hot Deformation and the Effects of Microalloying in High-Al Steels under Industrial Conditions. Mater Sci Forum. 2005;500-501:195-202. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.500-501.195
  12. Gibbs PJ, De Moor E, Merwin MJ, Clausen B, Speer JG, Matlock DK. Austenite stability effects on tensile behavior of manganese-enriched- austenite transformation-induced plasticity steel. Metall Mater Trans A Phys Metall Mater Sci. 2011;42(12):3691-3702. doi:10.1007/s11661-011-0687-y
  13. Dong H. High performance steels: Initiative and practice. Sci China Technol Sci. 2012;55(7):1774-1790. doi:10.1007/s11431-012-4911-9
  14. Zhao C, Cao WQ, Zhang C, Yang ZG, Dong H, Weng YQ. Effect of annealing temperature and time on microstructure evolution of 0*2C-5Mn steel during intercritical annealing process. Mater Sci Technol (United Kingdom). 2014;30(7):791-799. doi:10.1179/1743284713Y.0000000416
  15. Kong L, Liu Y, Liu J, et al. The influence of chromium on the pearlite-austenite transformation kinetics of the Fe-Cr-C ternary steels. J Alloys Compd. 2015;648:494-499. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.06.259
  16. Zhang H, Pradeep KG, Mandal S, Ponge D, Raabe D. New insights into the austenitization process of low-alloyed hypereutectoid steels: Nucleation analysis of strain-induced austenite formation. Acta Mater. 2014;80:296-308. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2014.07.073
  17. Yang F, Luo H, Hu C, Pu E, Dong H. Effects of intercritical annealing process on microstructures and tensile properties of cold-rolled 7Mn steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2017;685(November 2016):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2016.12.119
  18. Bai Y, Matsui Y, Shibata A, Tsuji N. Effect of thermomechanical processing at α + γ two-phase temperatures on microstructure and mechanical property of 5Mn-0.1C-2Si medium-manganese steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2019;743(August 2018):57-66. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2018.11.061
  19. Xu HF, Zhao J, Cao WQ, et al. Heat treatment effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a medium manganese steel (0.2C-5Mn). Mater Sci Eng A. 2012;532:435-442. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2011.11.009
  20. Xu YB, Zou Y, Hu ZP, Han DT, Chen SQ, Misra RDK. Correlation between deformation behavior and austenite characteristics in a Mn-Al type TRIP steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2017;698(11):126-135. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2017.05.058
  21. Huang H, Matsumura O, Furukawa T. Retained austenite in. 1994;10(July):621-626.
  22. Grajcar A, Kuziak R, Zalecki W. Third generation of AHSS with increased fraction of retained austenite for the automotive industry. Arch Civ Mech Eng. 2012;12(3):334-341. doi:10.1016/j.acme.2012.06.011
  23. Zhao X, Zhang Y, Shao C, Hui W, Dong H. Thermal stability of retained austenite and mechanical properties of medium-Mn steel during tempering treatment. J. Iron Steel Res. Int. 2017;24:830–837. doi:10.1016/s1006-706x(17)30123-1
  24. Lee SJ, Matlock DK, Van Tyne CJ. An empirical model for carbon diffusion in austenite incorporating alloying element effects. ISIJ Int. 2011;51(11):1903-1911. doi:10.2355/isijinternational.51.1903
  25. Yan S, Liu X, Liu WJ, Lan H, Wu H. Comparison on mechanical properties and microstructure of a C-Mn-Si steel treated by quenching and partitioning (Q&P) and quenching and tempering (Q&T) processes. Mater Sci Eng A. 2015;620:58-66. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2014.09.047
  26. Technologies M, Campus C, Kelimeler A. Effect of Tempering Heat Treatment on Medium Manganese Steels Temperleme Isıl İşleminin Orta Manganlı Çelikler Üzerindeki Etkisi. 2023;4(1):31-36.
  27. Pierce DT, Coughlin DR, Clarke KD, et al. Microstructural evolution during quenching and partitioning of 0.2C-1.5Mn-1.3Si steels with Cr or Ni additions. Acta Mater. 2018;151:454-469. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2018.03.007
  28. Han F, Hwang B, Suh DW, Wang Z, Lee DL, Kim SJ. Effect of molybdenum and chromium on hardenability of low-carbon boron-added steels. Met Mater Int. 2008;14(6):667-672. doi:10.3365/met.mat.2008.12.667
  29. Beswick JM. The effect of chromium in high carbon bearing steels. Metall Trans A. 1987;18(11):1897-1906. doi:10.1007/bf02647019
  30. Pelton AD, Koukkari P, Pajarre R, Eriksson G. Para-equilibrium phase diagrams. J Chem Thermodyn. 2014;72:16-22. doi:10.1016/j.jct.2013.12.023
  31. Suzuki T, Ono Y, Miyamoto G, Furuhara T. Effects of Si and Cr on bainite microstructure of medium carbon steels. Tetsu-To-Hagane/Journal Iron Steel Inst Japan. 2010;96(6):392-399. doi:10.2355/tetsutohagane.96.392
  32. Kirchner G, Nishizawa T, Uhrenius B. The distribution of chromium between ferrite and austenite and the thermodynamics of the α/γ equilibrium in the Fe-Cr and Fe-Mn Systems. Metall Trans. 1973;4(1):167-174. doi:10.1007/BF02649616
  33. Wang C, Yu L, Ding R, et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of a novel medium Mn steel with Cr and Mo microalloying. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021;825(April):141926. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2021.141926
  34. Zhu C, Xiong XY, Cerezo A, Hardwicke R, Krauss G, Smith GDW. Three-dimensional atom probe characterization of alloy element partitioning in cementite during tempering of alloy steel. Ultramicroscopy. 2007;107(9):808-812. doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2007.02.033
  35. Andrews, K.W. (). Empirical Formulae for Calculation of Some Transformation Temperatures, J.I.S.I., C. 1965;203:721–727
  36. Cai ZH, Ding H, Tang ZY, Misra RDK. Significance of control of austenite stability and transformation mechanisms in medium-manganese transformation-induced plasticity steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2016;676:289-293. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2016.08.124
  37. Tan X, Xu Y, Yang X, Liu Z, Wu D. Effect of partitioning procedure on microstructure and mechanical properties of a hot-rolled directly quenched and partitioned steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2014;594:149-160. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2013.11.064
  38. Cai ZH, Ding H, Misra RDK, Ying ZY. Austenite stability and deformation behavior in a cold-rolled transformation-induced plasticity steel with medium manganese content. Acta Mater. 2015;84:229-236. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2014.10.052
  39. Xu HF, Zhao J, Cao WQ, et al. Tempering effects on the stability of retained austenite and mechanical properties in a medium manganese steel. ISIJ Int. 2012;52(5):868-873. doi:10.2355/isijinternational.52.868
  40. Han J, Kang SH, Lee SJ, Lee YK. Fabrication of bimodal-grained Al-free medium Mn steel by double intercritical annealing and its tensile properties. J Alloys Compd. 2016;681:580-588. doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.04.014
  41. Han J, Lee SJ, Jung JG, Lee YK. The effects of the initial martensite microstructure on the microstructure and tensile properties of intercritically annealed Fe-9Mn-0.05C steel. Acta Mater. 2014;78:369-377. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2014.07.005
  42. Zhang R, Cao WQ, Peng ZJ, Shi J, Dong H, Huang CX. Intercritical rolling induced ultrafine microstructure and excellent mechanical properties of the medium-Mn steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2013;583:84-88. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2013.06.067
  43. Ohlund CEIC, Schlangen E, Erik Offerman S. The kinetics of softening and microstructure evolution of martensite in Fe-C-Mn steel during tempering at 300°C. Mater Sci Eng A. 2013;560:351-357. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2012.09.078
  44. Van Bohemen SMC, Sietsma J, Hermans MJM, Richardson IM. Kinetics of the martensitic transformation in low-alloy steel studied by means of acoustic emission. Acta Mater. 2003;51(14):4183-4196. doi:10.1016/S1359-6454(03)00236-2
  45. Low-carbon A quenched A tempered, Babu SR, Jaskari M, Järvenpää A. metals The E ff ect of Hot-Mounting on the Microstructure. Published online 2019:1-9.
  46. Morsdorf L, Tasan CC, Ponge D, Raabe D. 3D structural and atomic-scale analysis of lath martensite: Effect of the transformation sequence. Acta Mater. 2015;95:366-377. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2015.05.023
  47. Ning D, Dai CR, Wu JL, et al. Carbide precipitation and coarsening kinetics in low carbon and low alloy steel during quenching and subsequently tempering. Mater Charact. 2021;176(April). doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2021.111111
  48. Zhou N, Song R, Li X, Li J. Dependence of austenite stability and deformation behavior on tempering time in an ultrahigh strength medium Mn TRIP steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018;738(July):153-162. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2018.09.098
  49. Bhadeshia HKDH, Chintha AR, Lenka S. Critical Assessment 34: Are χ (Hägg), η and ϵ carbides transition-phases relative to cementite in steels? Mater Sci Technol (United Kingdom). 2019;35(11):1301-1305. doi:10.1080/02670836.2019.1625526
  50. Babu SS, Bhadeshia HKDH. Diffusion of carbon in substitutionally alloyed austenite. J Mater Sci Lett. 1995;14(5):314-316. doi:10.1007/BF00592135
  51. Zhu C, Xiong XY, Cerezo A., Hardwicke R, Krauss G, Smith GDW. Three-dimensional atom probe characterization of alloy element partitioning in cementite during tempering of alloy steel. Ultramicroscopy. 2007;107(9):808–812. doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2007.02.033
  52. Özgün Ö, Erçetin A. Microstructural and mechanical properties of Cr-C reinforced Cu matrix composites produced through powder metallurgy method. Tr J Nat Sci. 2017;6(2):2-7.
  53. Zou Y, Xu YB, Wang G, et al. Improved strength-ductility-toughness balance of a precipitation-strengthened low-carbon medium-Mn steel by adopting intercritical annealing-tempering process. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021;802(11). doi:10.1016/j.msea.2020.140636
  54. Cai ZH, Ding H, Misra RDK, Kong H, Wu HY. Unique impact of ferrite in influencing austenite stability and deformation behavior in a hot-rolled Fe-Mn-Al-C steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2014;595:86-91. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2013.12.003
  55. RASHID MS, RAO VN. Tempering Characteristics of a Vanadium Containing Dual Phase Steel. Met Trans a. 1982;13(N 10):1679-1686. doi:10.1007/bf02647823
  56. Jun HJ, Park SH, Choi SD, Park CG. Decomposition of retained austenite during coiling process of hot rolled TRIP-aided steels. Mater Sci Eng A. 2004;379(1-2):204-209. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2004.01.029
  57. Park HS, Seol JB, Lim NS, Kim S Il, Park CG. Study of the decomposition behavior of retained austenite and the partitioning of alloying elements during tempering in CMnSiAl TRIP steels. Mater Des. 2015;82:173-180. doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2015.05.059
  58. Wei X, Chai Z, Lu Q, et al. Cr-alloyed novel press-hardening steel with superior combination of strength and ductility. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021;819(April). doi:10.1016/j.msea.2021.141461
  59. Rowan OK, Sisson RD. Effect of Alloy Composition on Carburizing Performance of Steel. J Phase Equilibria Diffus. 2009;30(3):235-241. doi:10.1007/s11669-009-9500-7
  60. Hu B, Luo H. A novel two-step intercritical annealing process to improve mechanical properties of medium Mn steel. Acta Mater. 2019;176:250-263. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2019.07.014
  61. Sun WW, Wu YX, Yang SC, Hutchinson CR. Advanced high strength steel (AHSS) development through chemical patterning of austenite. Scr Mater. 2018;146:60-63. doi:10.1016/j.scriptamat.2017.11.007
  62. Cai ZH, Ding H, Kamoutsi H, Haidemenopoulos GN, Misra RDK. Interplay between deformation behavior and mechanical properties of intercritically annealed and tempered medium-manganese transformation-induced plasticity steel. Mater Sci Eng A. 2016;654:359-367. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2015.12.057
  63. Suh DW, Park SJ, Lee TH, Oh CS, Kim SJ. Influence of Al on the microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of low-carbon, manganese transformation-induced-plasticity steel. Metall Mater Trans A Phys Metall Mater Sci. 2010;41(2):397-408. doi:10.1007/s11661-009-0124-7