Interactions between deformation-induced defects and carbides in a vanadium-containing TWIP steel

Interactions of deformation-induced defects with nanometer-sized vanadium carbides in a Fe-21.6Mn-0.63C-0.87V (wt.%) TWIP steel have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The increased yield strength due to precipitation hardening has been estimated to be about 200 MPa, according to the bypass mechanism. Mechanical twins were also observed to bypass carbides, but the carbides were not sheared or rotated. Moreover, the nature of stacking fault can also be changed due to the precipitation of V4C3 carbides. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.