Co-precipitation mechanism of Cu-rich phase and κ-carbide precipitates in Fe-28Mn-10Al-1C-3Cu austenitic low-density steel

The excellent comprehensive properties of Fe-28Mn-10Al-1C-3Cu austenitic low-density steel are related to its main precipitates of Cu-rich phase and κ-carbide particles. The co-precipitation mechanism of Cu-rich phase and κ-carbide particles in Fe-28Mn-10Al-1C-3Cu austenitic low-density steel are investigated. Adding Cu to Fe-28Mn-10Al-1C austenitic low-density steel can promote the precipitation of κ-carbide. The κ-carbide can also promote the precipitation of Cu-rich phase with FCC structure. The κ-carbide preferentially precipitate compared to Cu-rich phase. The κ-carbide and Cu-rich phase have a cube-on-cube orientation relationship with the austenitic matrix: [110]γ//[110]κ//[110]Cu and (111)γ//(111)κ//(111)Cu.