Damage Initiation in Dual-Phase Steels: Influence of Crystallographic and Morphological Parameters

Typical microstructures of dual-phase (DP) steels consist of hard martensite particles dispersed within a ductile ferritic matrix. These microstructures possess a complex network of grain and interphase boundaries, which, together with the mechanical contrast of their phase composition, control micro-damage initiation mechanisms, induced by deformation. Accordingly, in this study we analyze the influence of individual microstructural features and interfaces on damage nucleation and progression in DP steels with respect to applied tensile strain. Prominent micro-damage mechanisms include cracking of martensite and damage initiation at interphase boundaries. Influence of martensite morphology is discussed based on a statistical analysis of the damage features as observed by electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps. Prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGbs) in martensite show a brittle behavior and are highly susceptible to crack propagation.