In this study, the evolution of the mechanical properties of Fe-30Mn-9Al-1C steel has been determined in tensile tests at strain rates of 10-4 to 102 s-1. The results show that the strain rate sensitivity becomes a negative value when the strain rate exceeds 100 s-1 and this abnormal evolution is attributed to the occurrence of dynamic strain aging. Due to the presence of intergranular κ-carbides, the fracture modes of steel include ductile fracture and intergranular fracture. The values of dislocation arrangement parameter M were obtained using a modified Williamson-Hall plot. It has been found that once the strain rate sensitivity becomes negative, the interaction of dislocations in the steel is weakened and the free movement of dislocation is enhanced. Adiabatic heating promotes the dynamic recovery of steel at a high strain rate.
Keywords: Fe–Mn–Al–C steel; dislocation arrangement; dynamic strain aging; modified Williamson–Hall plot; strain rate.