A C C I A I O

Memorie
Microstructures and properties
of TRansformation Induced Plasticity steels
A. Dimatteo, G. Lovicu, M. Desanctis, R. Valentini, A. Solina

The weight reduction of automobile, maintaining sufficient safety by using the high strength steel sheet,
is of great concern to the carmakers who have to fulfil environmental standards. In particular for the
structural and chassis parts, there has been the demand for replacing the conventional 390-440 MPa
grades steel sheets by the higher strength grades with sufficient formability. TRIP steel, where a small
portion of austenite remains in the ferritic-bainitic basic matrix, is one of the candidate materials for 590-
780 Mpa grades high strength steel sheet with superior formability. The excellent mechanical properties
exhibited by the TRansformation Induced Plasticity steels are mainly due to the martensitic
transformation of the metastable retained austenite induced by strain. Three TRIP steels grade have been
tested: 590, 690 and 780. Mechanical properties are determined by uniaxial tensile tests and are
correlated to the microstructures of the steels. The tensile tests up to fracture are been carried to analyse
the relation between the different strain hardening behaviours and the transformation of retained
austenite into martensite during deformation. The specimens for the metallographic investigations of
microstructure are conventionally prepared, conventional etchings such as Le Pera and nital plus sodium
metabisulphite, have been used. It has been possible by these etchings to identify the different phases
present in TRIP steel and to distinguee the different morphologies of retained austenite.
The relation between strain hardening behaviour and fraction of retained austenite is discussed.
Keywords: steel, phase transformation, heat treatment, material characterization

INTRODUCTION
Development of TRIP steels during the past decade leads to
a significant reduction of alloying elements addition which
makes the TRIP steels more economically available. Such a
development mainly arises from improvements of the heat-
treatment schedules, which consist of an intercritical annea-
ling and a subsequent isothermal annealing in the bainitic
transformation region. The purpose for the heat is to stabili-
se the austenite by increasing its carbon concentration. The
carbon enrichment is due to phase separation during inter-
critical annealing and to the suppression of carbide forma-
tion during the bainitic transformation. The microstructure
after heat-treatment consists of ferrite, bainite, retained au-
stenite and sometimes, martensite.
The main alloying element is carbon, which determines the
amount of intercritical austenite and leads to the retention of
the austenite in the TRIP steels. Manganese is used for harde-
nability and strength. It slows down the pearlite formation
and increases the strength of the material by solid solution
hardening. Silicon plays an important role on the stabilisa-
tion of the retained austenite. Silicon is an element, which
prevents and retards the carbide precipitation during bainite
formation. The important drawback of Si is that CMnSi-
TRIP steels are difficult to process in continuous galvani-
zing-line. Because of this, aluminium has been used to repla-
ce the silicon in industrial TRIP steel,(1,2). Infact both Al
and P also suppress the carbide formation. The material pro-
ments. Both elements have a similar effect. The grain size re-
duction effect, the suppression of undesired pearlite forma-
tion and delay of the isothermal production of bainite in the
region of the real temperature, are the main effects, through
which higher Residual-austenite contents can be realised.
The excellent mechanical properties exhibited by Transfor-
mation Induced Plasticity steels are mainly due to the mar-
tensitic transformation of the metastable retained austenite
induced by strain. In general, the retained austenite can ef-
fect the mechanical properties in several ways:
- residual blocky austenite could transform to martensite
during water quenching and improve the strength
- retained austenite interlath layers could increase the
strength by enhancing the ability of lath boundaries to ob-
stacle dislocation movement
- retained austenite could increase the elongation due to the
TRIP effect. So, the higher volume fraction of the stable
retained austenite should correlate with improved mecha-
nical properties.
The morphology of retained austenite has been classified in-
to five different categories:
- blocky shape enclosed by polygonal ferrite,
- blocky or layer shape enclosed by acicular ferrite,
- blocky or layer shape enclosed by bainite packets,
- interlayer film enclosed by martensite laths,
- austenite/martensite constituent.
The stability, (4), of retained austenite depends on the car-
bon content in the retained austenite lattice (chemical stabi-
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perties can be improved by adding Nb or Ti as alloying ele-
Antonella Dimatteo, Gianfranco Lovicu, Massimo Desanctis,
Renzo Valentini, Adriano Solina
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Chimica Industriale e Scienza dei Materiali,
Universit degli studi di Pisa, Italy
Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference
HEAT TREATMENT AND SURFACE ENGINEERING IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS,
Riva del Garda, 20-22 June 2005
lity), the size and the distribution of residual austenite as
well as the morphology of the surrounding phase (mechani-
cal stability). It has been reported, (3), that the carbon distri-
bution within residual austenite is not homogeneous, which
leads to the transformation of the low carbon retained auste-
nite to martensite at the early stage of the deformation. The
retained austenite present between the polygonal ferrite
grains has a lower carbon content than that between the bai-
nitic ferrite grains or laths due to the absence of carbon enri-
chment during the bainite reaction. These retained austenite

la metallurgia italiana 37
 A C C I A I O
Memorie

islands tend to transform to martensite under a small strain.
The retained austenite located at a polygonal ferrite/bainite
interface might have a varying carbon distribution within
the crystal due to its location between polygonal ferrite on
one side and bainite on the other. This could lead to that part
of the retained austenite crystal in close proximity to the
polygonal ferrite, with a lower carbon content, transforming
to martensite at a lower strains than the areas in close proxi-
mity to bainite, with high carbon content.
It has also been observed that the optimum elongation beha-
viour is obtained when the retained austenite is present in
the microstructure in the form of the thin films between the
bainitic ferrite laths rather than as a blocky type between the
bainitic ferrite grains.
Recent research (8) has shown that retained austenite grains
larger than 1_m are unstable, and do not contribute signifi-
cantly to the ductility of the material. On the other hand, re-
tained austenite islands, which are smaller than submicron
have a low tendency to transform to martensite, even if
necking occurs, and thus do not contribute to the ductility.
The carbon content determines the chemical driving force
for the transformation of the retained austenite to martensite,
the stress-free transformation strain and the flow behaviour
of the retained austenite. It has recently been published that
the retained austenite only with optimum carbon content
(>0.5-0.6% and <1.8%) can provide the TRIP effect and in-
crease the elongation.
The presence of other phases in the vicinity of retained au-
stenite can also affect the strain induced transformation.
Martensite, for example, can propagate stress directly to the
retained austenite during deformation, which may then ea-
sily transforms to martensite at an early stage of straining
that diminishes the TRIP effect.
The drastic effects of microstructure on physical and mecha-
nical properties of steels make metallographic examination
a necessity for properties understanding and enhancement.
To reveal specific microstructural characteristics, numerous
etching method have been developed, among which chemi-
cal etching is certainly the easiest and most widely used.
This technique utilizes a controlled corrosion process driven
by the electrochemical potential differences between surface
with chemical or physical heterogeneities,(6).
TRIP-aided steel are composed of four phases forming a
very fine microstructure which makes their observation dif-
ficult. For light microscopy observation, some specific et-
chants have been tested.
The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the use of
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the etching techniques that have been used by several inve-
stigators to reveal the microstructure of TRIP steels. The
mechanical properties and the strain hardening behaviour of
the TRIP steel examined has been correlated to the stability
of the retained austenite.
MATERIALS AND ANNEALING CONDITIONS
Chemical composition of steels used in this study is reported
in table 1. The heat-treatment conditions applied to the
steels are shown in figure 1.
TESTING AND ANALYSING
Yield strength is defined as a lower yield point or as the
strength at 0.2% offset strain in case of the absence of a
yield point. The work-hardening behaviour is described
using the change in the instantaneous work-hardening expo-
nent ninst defined as the following equation evaluated from
the true stress-strain curve.
ninst = dlnt / dlnt
The specimens for the metallographic investigations of the
microstructure are conventionally prepared and etched with
Nital and Klemms agent, with Nital and sodium metabisul-
fites agent, with Le Pera etching and with first with 4% Pi-
cral and then with 10% aqueous sodium metabisulfite solu-
tion. They are also etched with Beharas etchant.
RESULTS
The following figures presents the typical multhiphase mi-
crostructure of TRIP steels consisting of bainite and retained
austenite dispersed in a ferritic matrix.
After application of Nital and Klemms agent, ferrite grains
show different colors, mainly blue or bright-brown, retained
austenite and martensite are white, bainite and tempered
martensite are brown and pearlite is black. Etching with Le

Fig. 2 TRIP590 steel etched with nital and sodium metabisulfite.

Fig. 1 Parameters of continuous annealing cycle.
Fig. 2 Acciaio TRIP 590 attaccato metallograficamente con
Fig. 1 Parametri del ciclo di ricottura continua. Nital e metabisulfito di sodio.

Table 1 Steels chemical

C Mn Si P S Cr Ni Cu Al Ti Nb composition.
TRIP590 0.15 1.57 1.02 0.018 0.028 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.043 - - Tabella 1 Composizione
TRIP690 0.14 1.57 1.45 0.014 0.027 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.019 0.042 chimica degli acciai.
TRIP780 0.19 1.58 1.6 0.013 0.025 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.036 0.027 0.038

38 la metallurgia italiana
 A C C I A I O

Memorie
Fig. 3 TRIP780 steel etched with Nital and Klemm s agent. Fig. 5 TRIP690 steel etched with Behara.
Fig. 3 Acciaio TRIP 780 attaccato metallograficamente con Fig. 5 Acciaio TRIP 690 attaccato metallograficamente con
Nital e Klemm. Behara.

Fig. 4 TRIP 590 steel etched with 4% Picral and then with 10% Fig. 6 TRIP690 steel etched with Lepera.
aqueous sodium metabisulfite solution.
Fig. 6 Acciaio TRIP 690 attaccato metallograficamente con Le
Fig. 4 Acciaio TRIP 590 attaccato metallograficamente con Pera.
Picral in alcool al 4% e poi con una soluzione acquosa di
metabisulfito di sodio al 10%

Pera reagent, containing equal volumes of 4% picral and
2% aqueous Na2S2O5, the dispersed martensite islands and
the retained austenite in these microstructures are revealed
in brilliant white while the selectively attacked ferrite matrix
is tinted blue, the pearlite and bainite are brown. After appli-
cation of Nital and sodium metabisulfite agent ferrite is tin-
ted grey, martensite, bainite and pearlite are black, retained
austenite is white.
Etching with first with 4% Picral and then with 10%
aqueous sodium metabisulfite solution the steel microstruc-
ture reveals clearly the retained austenite as white, martensi-
te as straw-coloured constituents, bainite can be identified
with needle-shaped austenite. The Behara s etchants co-
lours ferrite, martensite, bainite and ferrite. The ferrite ap-
vent grain boundary motion even more effectively, result in
an increase in strength, but can also serve as nucleation sites
for phase transformations.
The positive effect of niobium on the volume fraction is an
higher austenite content as a result of the combination of the
different mechanisms, including grain refinement, carbon
enrichment, and martensite nucleation inhibition.
As niobium encourages the realisation of high austenite con-
tents, the addition of niobium leads to at least equal elonga-
tion values whereas noticeably higher strength values are
obtained as consequence of grain refinement and precipita-
tion hardening.
The mechanical properties of the steels are summarised in
table 2.
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pears blue, the austenite yellow.

Due to its relatively big difference in atom radius niobium UTS, Elongation, YS, thickness,
Steel
enhances strength by interfering with dislocation slipping, MPa % MPa mm
reduces diffusivity and slows down or even suppresses grain
boundary motion, when being located within the iron ma- TRIP590 617 17.6 394 2
trix. But as niobium has a strong tendency to combine with TRIP690 699 14.7 400 2
carbon and nitrogen even more important effects arise from TRIP780 792 18.0 471 2
the presence of small carbides and carbonitrides that form at
high and intermediate temperatures and only dissolve at Table 2 Mechanical properties.
temperature above 1000 C, (5). These small particles pre- Tabella 2 Propriet meccaniche.

la metallurgia italiana 39
 A C C I
Memorie
Fig. 7 Variation of strain hardening coefficient with true strain
of TRIP 690 steel.
Fig. 7 Variazione del coefficiente di incrudimento in funzione
della deformazione reale per l acciaio TRIP 690.
The high level of ductility of TRIP steels is achieved by the
transformation of metastable retained austenite under strai-
ning at room temperature. This transformation results in a
localised increase of the strain hardening coefficient during
straining, which delays the onset of necking and ultimately
leads to a higher uniform and total elongation, (7).
TRIP690 steel shows a higher n-value due to the transfor-
mation of a larger amount of retained austenite to martensite
during straining. This is consistent with the low elongation
obtained in the TRIP690 steel after testing.
CONCLUSIONS
This work has demonstrated that the austenite and martensi-
te are distinguishable etching with nital plus sodium metabi-
sulfite and etching with Behara. With both etching the retai-
ned austenite appears white while the martensite is darke-
ned. The retained austenite can be distinguish from non car-
bide bainite by shape: the retained austenite is rounded par-
ticles the other is needles.
This work has demonstrated that the retained austenite in
non-Niobium steel is more stable, the non-Niobium steel has
shown the optimum combination of mechanical properties.
A B S T
MICROSTRUTTURA E PROPRIETA DEGLI ACCIAI TRIP
Parole chiave:
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acciaio, trasformazione di fase, trattamenti termici,
caratterizzazione materiali
Per le industrie automobilistiche che devono rispettare gli
standard ambientali di grande importanza la riduzione in
peso delle automobili associata ad un sufficiente livello di
sicurezza tramite l uso di acciai alto resistenziali. In parti-
colare per le parti strutturali e del telaio in studio la sosti-
tuzione dei convenzionali acciai di grado 390-440 Mpa con
acciai a pi elevato livello di resistenza dotati di sufficiente
40 la metallurgia italiana
A I O
Fig. 8 Variation of strain hardening coefficient with true strain
of TRIP 590 steel.
Fig. 8 Variazione del coefficiente di incrudimento in funzione
della deformazione reale per l acciaio TRIP 590.
REFERENCES
1. J. MAHIEU, D. VAN DOOREN and B.C. DE COO-
MAN, Proc. Of the Int. Conf. On TRIP-aided High
Strength Ferrous Alloys, Ghent (2002), ed. By B.C. De
Cooman, p.159.
2. WOLFGANG BLECK, Proc. Of the Int. Conf. On
TRIP-aided High Strength Ferrous Alloys, Ghent
(2002), ed. By B.C. De Cooman, p.13.
3. ILANA B. TIMOKHINA, PETER D. HODGSON and
ELENA V. PERELOMA, Metall. Trans. 35A, (2004);
p.2331.
4. P.J. JAQUES, J. LADRIERE, F. DELANNAY, Metall.
Trans. 32A, (2001); p.2759.
5. SEUNG CHUL BAIK, SEONGJU KIM, YOUNG
SOOL JIN, OHJOON KWON, ISIJ Int., 41, (2001),
p.290.
6. E. GIRAULT, P. JACQUES, P.H. HARLET, K. MOLS,
J. VAN HUMBEECK, E. AERNOUDT, and F. DELLN-
NAY, Materials Characterization 40, (1998), p.111.
7. O. MATSUMURA, O. SAKUMA and H. TAKESHI,
Scr. Metall. 21, (1987), p. 1301.
R A C T
formabilit.
Le eccellenti propriet meccaniche esibite dagli acciai TRIP
sono dovute principalmente alla trasformazione martensiti-
ca della austenite residua metastabile indotta dalla defor-
mazione. Questa trasformazione porta ad un localizzato au-
mento del coefficiente di incrudimento, che ritarda l insor-
gere della strizione e porta a valori pi alti dell allunga-
mento percentuale uniforme e totale, (7).
Sono stati testati acciai TRIP di tre diversi gradi: 590, 690 e
780.
I provini per l investigazione metallografica sono stati pre-
parati in modo convenzionale, e sono stati usati attacchi co-
me il Le Pera e il nital insieme al metabisulfito di sodio tra-
 A C C I
dizionalmente impiegati per gli acciai multifase. E stato
possibile tramite questi attacchi identificare le differenti fasi
presenti e distinguere la martensite dall austenite residua.
Dopo l applicazione del nital seguito dal Klemm i grani fer-
ritici dovrebbero apparire principalmente blu o marrone
chiaro, la martensite e l austenite residua bianca, la bainite
marrone e la perlite nera. In realt dalla figura 3 si vede che
dopo questo attacco tutto scurito, non si riescono a distin-
guere le varie microstrutture. Attaccando con il Le Pera,
che contiene uguali volumi di una soluzione al 4% di acido
picrico in alcool e di una soluzione all 1% in acqua, le iso-
le di martensite dispersa e l austenite residua appaiono
bianco brillante mentre la matrice ferritica tinta di blu, la
perlite e la bainite sono marroni; figura 6. La martensite e l
austenite residua sono quindi indistinguibili. Dopo l appli-
cazione del nital seguito dal metabisulfito di sodio la ferrite
tinta di grigio, la martensite, la bainite e la perlite sono
nere, l austenite residua bianca; figura 2. Le particelle
bianche a forma di ago possono essere identificate con la
bainite priva di carburi. Utilizzando prima una soluzione al
4% di acido picrico in alcool e poi una soluzione acquosa di
A I O
metabisulfito di sodio al 10% l austenite residua si rivela
Memorie
chiaramente come le particelle bianche, la martensite come
i costituenti colorati di giallo, la bainite priva di carburi
pu essere identificata con le particelle a forma di ago; fi-
gura 4. L attacco con il Behara colora la ferrite, martensi-
te, la bainite e la ferrite. La ferrite appare blu, l austenite
sono le piccole particelle tonde bianche, la bainite senza
carburi sono le particelle bianche a forma di ago; la bainite
marrone scuro la martensite marrone chiaro; figura 5.
Le propriet meccaniche sono state determinate tramite test
di trazione uniassiale e sono stati correlati alla microstrut-
tura degli acciai.
Le prove di trazione sono state effettuate per analizzare la
relazione esistente tra il coefficiente di incrudimento e la
trasformazione dell austenite residua in martensite durante
la deformazione. L acciaio TRIP 690 ha mostrato il pi alto
valore di n istantaneo, figura 7, dovuto alla trasformazione
di una maggiore quantit di austenite residua in martensite
durante la deformazione. Ci conforme con il basso valore
dell allungamento percentuale a rottura dell acciaio TRIP
690.
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la metallurgia italiana 41