Medium Manganese Steel: A Promising Candidate for Automotive Applications

Over the last decade, research in the field of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) for automotive applications has undergone a paradigm shift from low manganese (Mn) transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) aided and high Mn twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steels to medium Mn (3-10 wt.% Mn) TRIP and/or TWIP aided steels. This is primarily due to the unique combination of strength and ductility obtained in medium Mn steels. Medium Mn steels represent the 3rd generation class of advanced high
strength steels (AHSS). These steels supersede the 1st Gen AHSS which shows dismal performance with respect to the requirement of the modern carmakers, at the same time, medium Mn steels are significantly cheaper and are easy to process as compared to the 2nd generation AHSS. These advantages have led to an upsurge in the research of these 3rd Gen AHSS- medium Mn steels since last 10 years. The present article aims to showcase the process of medium manganese steels in terms of mechanical performance and therefore its applicability for automotive applications. An overview of composition, suitable heat treatment and the associated parameters, different processing routes, microstructure, mechanical properties and factors influencing it are presented.