Effect of Warm Rolling on the Structure and Tensile Properties of a Metastable Fe-Based Medium Entropy Alloy

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of warm rolling on the microstructure and tensile properties of Fe60(CoNi)30Cr10 Fe-based medium entropy alloy (Fe-MEA). Warm rolling is performed above room temperature but below the recrystallization temperature. The experimental procedures involve comparing the microstructure and mechanical properties of the warm-rolled specimen with a cold-rolled and subsequently annealed specimen. Microstructural analysis reveals coarse elongated face-centered cubic grains, deformation-induced martensite, and a high density of dislocations in the warm-rolled sample. Tensile tests conducted at ambient and cryogenic temperatures demonstrate that the warm-rolled Fe-MEA exhibits enhanced strength and a similar level of elongation compared to the annealed sample. The improved mechanical properties are attributed to the transformation-induced plasticity resulting from the high dislocation density by warm rolling. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of warm rolling as a processing technique to enhance the mechanical properties of Fe-MEA, offering possibilities for broader applications. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].