γ→α′ Martensitic transformation and magnetic property of cold rolled Fe-20Mn-4Al-0.3C steel

Direct γ→α′ martensitic transformation during cold rolling deformation was investigated for a high-Mn non-magnetic steel. Its influence on magnetic property was also analyzed. The magnetization under rolling reduction less than 50% almost presents a linear increase with the applied magnetic field. With deformation up to 73% and 93% thickness reductions, strain induced α′-martensite transformation starts to occur, causing the steel to be slightly magnetized. The α′-martensite prefers to nucleate directly at either microband-microband or microband-twin intersections without participation of intermediate ε-martensite. The volume fraction of α′-martensite is estimated as 0.070% and 0.17%, respectively, based on the magnetic hysteresis loops. Such a small fraction of ferromagnetic α′-martensite shows little influence on the magnetic induction intensity and low relative permeability.