| Title |
Brief Review of Strengthening Mechanisms in TRIP- and TWIP-Assisted Medium Manganese Steels: Microstructure Analysis Viewpoint |
| Authors |
이초현(Cho-Hyeon Lee) ; 이민영(Min-young Lee) ; 조원희(Won-Hui Jo) ; 김장중(Jang-Jung Kim) ; 천재은(Jae-Eun Cheon) ; 한주연(Ju-Yeon Han) ; 최현주(Hyun-Joo Choi) ; 조기섭(Ki-Sub Cho) ; 이현정(Hyun-Jung Lee) ; 이영국(Young-Kook Lee) ; 설재복(Jae-Bok Seol) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2026.64.1.64 |
| ISSN |
1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN) |
| Keywords |
Twinning induced plasticity; Transformation induced plasticity; Medium Mn steel; Microstructure |
| Abstract |
Recent research on medium manganese steels has highlighted their potential for achieving an
exceptional strength-to-ductility balance, primarily through the synergistic activation of transformation-induced
plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) mechanisms. Medium manganese steels, generally
containing 3?12 wt.% Mn, offer a unique combination of high strength and elongation with lower alloying costs
than high-Mn steels. The TRIP mechanism enhances strength by promoting the stress-induced transformation
of metastable austenite into martensite, while the TWIP mechanism increases ductility through twin formation
and the associated high work-hardening rate. These mechanisms are strongly influenced by stacking fault
energy (SFE). Medium mn steels with SFE values in the range of 18?25 mJ/m2 can simultaneously activate both,
thereby overcoming the conventional strength?ductility trade-off. TRIP tends to dominate during the early
stages of deformation, providing rapid strain hardening, while TWIP becomes more active at later stages,
sustaining the hardening rate and prolonging the balance between strength and ductility. This paper reviews
the microstructural basis of TRIP and TWIP, focusing on analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron
microscopy (TEM), as well as recent in-situ TEM observations that directly capture phase transformation and
twinning. Insights into the material's potential applications and future research directions are provided to
highlight medium manganese steels as a promising material for next-generation high-performance applications. |