The influence of Cu and Ni on the ductile-brittle transition behavior of metastable austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-N alloys with N contents below 0.5 wt.% was investigated in terms of austenite stability and microstructure. All the metastable austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-N alloys exhibited a ductile-brittle transition behavior by unusual low-temperature brittle fracture, irrespective of Cu and/or Ni addition, and deformation-induced martensitic transformation occasionally occurred during Charpy impact testing at lower temperatures due to reduced austenite stability resulting from insufficient N content. The formation of deformation-induced martensite substantially increased the ductile-brittle transition temperature(DBTT) by deteriorating low-temperature toughness because the martensite was more brittle than the parent austenite phase beyond the energy absorbed during transformation, and its volume fraction was too small. On the other hand, the Cu addition to the metastable austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-N alloy increased DBTT because the presence of δ-ferrite had a negative effect on low-temperature toughness. However, the combined addition of Cu and Ni to the metastable austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-N alloy decreased DBTT, compared to the sole addtion of Ni or Cu. This could be explained by the fact that the combined addition of Cu and Ni largely enhanced austenite stability, and suppressed the formation of deformation-induced martensite and δ-ferrite in conjunction with the beneficial effect of Cu which may increase stacking fault energy, so that it allows cross-slip to occur and thus reduces the planarity of the deformation mechanism.

준안정 Fe-Cr-Ni 3원 오스테나이트 STS강을 90% 냉간압연한 후 여러온도에서 어니링하여 얻은 가공유기 마르텐사이트(α')와 역변태 오스테나이트(γ)와의2상 혼합조직가에 있어서 기게적 성질과 γ안정도와의 관계를 조사하였다. 모든 강들은 90% 냉간압연에 의하여 거의 α'단상조직이 되었고, 변태된 α'는 773~873K의 온도범위에서 급격하게 γ로 역변태하였다. Cr과 Ni함량이 많을수록, 그리고 결정립 미세화에 의해서γ는 더욱 안정화하여 Ms 점의 저하를 초래하였다. Cr량을 적게하여γ를 불안정하게 함으로써 많은 α'를 품는 고강도, 고연성의 초미세립강이 얻어졌다.