Effects of titanium addition on austenite grain size and mechanical properties of high manganese steel

Manganese steels have been widely used in industries due to their good wear resistance, high work hardening ability, and high toughness and ductility. This research investigated the effect of modification, i.e., FeTi and Mischmetal, on the grain size and mechanical properties of the high manganese steel (13–15 wt.%). The alloys are modified at different temperatures of 1500, 1550, and 1600 o. The modified alloys were heat-treated after solidification by a two-step process. The grain size, chemical composition, and phase formation of the heat-treated steel were characterized by Optical Microscopy, X-ray Diffractometry, and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the steel, such as Brinell hardness, tensile strength, and toughness, were measured. As a result, the grain size of the heat-treated alloys is smaller compared to that of un-modified alloys and decreases with the increase in modification amount. The addition of Ti reduced C in the austenite phase by forming very stable carbides, TiC. Maximum tensile strength of 780 MPa was achieved with the addition of 0.1 wt.% Ti, while maximum fracture toughness was 140 J/cm2 at 0.05 wt.% Ti.