Effect of pre-deformation on the tensile properties of a metastable austenitic steel

The effect of pre-deformation on the tensile properties of an ultrafine-grained metastable austenitic steel was investigated. The pre-deformation greatly improves the yield stress and austenite stability. However, the pre-deformation has little effect on the rate of martensitic transformation with the true strain or on the strain hardening rate at large strains. The higher yield stress and unimproved strain hardening rate in the warm-rolled specimen cause premature plastic instability and smaller uniform ductility.