Title: Effect of the strain-hardening on the wear and corrosion behaviour of a Fe-Mn-Al-C alloy

Authors: Frederico A.P. Fernandes; Stênio C. Heck; George E. Totten; Carlos A. Picon; Luiz C. Casteletti

Addresses: Department of Materials, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, No. 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil. ' Department of Materials, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, No. 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil. ' Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR, 97207-0751, USA. ' Department of Physics and Chemistry, Engineering School of Ilha Solteira, Av. Brasil, No. 56, Ilha Solteira, São Paulo, 15385-000, Brazil. ' Department of Materials, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, No. 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil

Abstract: Iron alloys with appreciable amounts of aluminium yield a corrosion resistant alumina surface film. The addition of Mn to these alloys makes them austenitic, significantly increasing ductility. Due to these factors, it is interesting to develop austenitic Fe-Mn-Al alloys that can substitute, in some applications, traditional stainless steels. This study aims to evaluate the wear and corrosion resistance of a Fe-32Mn-8Al-1C alloy after cold-rolling. Rolling was carried out with thickness reductions of 20%, 40% and 80%. Wear tests were performed using a micro-wear machine and corrosion tests performed in natural sea water. The results showed that Fe-Mn-Al-C alloy exhibits good cold-forming ability with a progressive increase of hardness with thickness reduction. The wear resistance increased as the reduction level was increased and corrosion resistance decreased with the increase of the strain-hardening, due to deformation. Such behaviour may be associated with stress corrosion, which is amplified by the degree of reduction.

Keywords: Fe-Mn-Al alloys; iron alloys; aluminium; magnesium; cold rolling; corrosion resistance; wear resistance; strain hardening; ductility; austenitic alloys; stainless steel; cold forming; deformation; stress corrosion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2012.047496

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2012 Vol.7 No.2/3, pp.143 - 151

Published online: 24 Jun 2012 *

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