Physical and Mechanical Properties of High Manganese Non-magnetic

Steel and Its Application to Various Products for Commercial Use*

By Terufumi SASAKI,** Kenji WATANABE,** Kiyohiko NOHARA,**

Yutaka ONO,** Nobuyuki KOND 0 *** and Shuzo SAT 0 ****

Synopsis growing for developing new non-magnetic structural

In order to developnew high manganesenon-magneticsteels that can be
employedto extensive applications ranging from cryogenicto elevatedtem-
perature uses, the effects of C and Mn on their magnetic permeability,
thermal expansioncoefficientand mechanicalproperties are investigated.
It is found that the relation betweenthermal expansioncoefficient,jS, and
both C and Mn contentscan be expressedby thefollowing linear regression
equation:
steel suited to a wide range of uses at cryogenic tem-
peratures (below liquid nitrogen temperature) and
higher temperatures as well as at room temperature.
To meet these requirements, a variety of new high
Mn non-magnetic steels have been developed. The
results are described below.

p(x 10_6/°C) = 17.66+3.82 C (%)--0.22 Mn (%). II. Experiment

Good mechanicalproperties are exhibited in the wide range of Mn con-
tents between 18 % and 30 % at room temperature, while there is a
tendencythat this optimum range of Mn content is narrowed at cryogenic
temperature.
Then, H-shapes, round bars and deformed bars are manufactured at the
workshops using 5 t vacuum melted ingots, aiming to establish the condi-
tions for practical processesfor final products and to study such various
characteristicsof the products as their physical and mechanicalproperties,
machinability and weldability. As a result, it is shown that all of those
products have excellentproperties as non-magneticsteels.
In addition, the manufacturing of non-magneticpinch rolls attached to
the electro-magneticstirring equipmenton the continuous casting machine
is described in detail as one of the practical applications of the high Mn
non-magneticsteels.
I. Introduction
The high manganese steel is well-known as Had-
field steel with a good wear-resistance property.1'2)
It is also employed as non-magnetic steel along with
austenitic stainless steel. Recently with the start of
such big projects as nuclear fusion reactors and high
speed magnetic levitation railway systems which are
both equipped with superconducting magnets, high
Mn non-magnetic steels are drawing wide attention
in view of their application to structural steels.3) The
reasons are as follows :
(1) They can maintain non-magnetic state even
when being worked or heat treated.
(2) Their thermal expansion coefficient can be
controlled from that of austenitic stainless steel (about
l8 x 10-6 °C-1) to that of low C steel (about 12x
10-6 °C-1).
(3) High strength can be obtained.
(4) They show good mechanical properties at low
temperature.
(5) They are produced at low costs.
But ordinary Hadfield steel (lC-13Mn) has the
defects of being unstable when worked or heat treated,
of large thermal expansion coefficient, and of showing
poor hot or cold workability. The demand has been
The effect of such principal elements as C and Mn,
and some other various alloying elements on magnetic
permeability, thermal expansion coefficient and me-
chanical properties was studied to develop new type
of non-magnetic steels widely applicable to the latest
demands.
1. ExperimentalProcedures
In the present experiment the study was carried
out with small ingots weighing 1O-.3O kg. The prop-
erties of high manganese steels are characterized
mainly by C and Mn contents so that the effect of C
and Mn on magnetic permeability, thermal expansion
coefficient and mechanical properties was investigated.
The tests were conducted in both as-rolled and solu-
tion heat treated states. Thermal expansion coeffi-
cient was measured with 50 X50 mm round bar by
means of differential transformerr method. Magneti-
zation measurements were carried out using a speci-
men of 5~bX 7 mm by vibrating sample magnetometer.
Magnetic permeability (p) was calculated by the fol-
lowing formula,
p =1 +4lrxp
where x is magnetic susceptibility and p is density.
The maximum value of magnetic field is 10 kOe.
2. ExperimentalResults
1. Magnetic Permeability
The change in u with C and Mn contents after
solution heat treatment followed by water quenching
is shown in Fig. 1 that corresponds to an equilibrium
phase diagram of Fe-Mn-C system at 1 100 °C.4,5)
It is shown that p is satisfactorily maintained below
1.02 that is usually considered as a criterion of non-
magnetic condition,6) in the region without a or a'
phase (martensite). In this region, the effect of C
and Mn on p is negligibly small and p is regarded
actually constant. This is related with the fact that

* Originally published in Kawasaki Steel Giho, 13 (1981), 381, in Japanese. English version received March 10, 1982. © 1982 ISIJ
** Research Department II, Research Laboratories, Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Kawasaki-cho, Chiba 260.
*** Mizushima Research Department, Research Laboratories, Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Kawasaki-dori, Mizushima, Kurashiki 712.
**** Tenchnical Control Department, Mizushima Works, Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Kawasaki-dori, Mizushima, Kurashiki 712.

(1010) Report
 Transactions ISIT, Vol. 22, 1982 (1011)

Fig . 1. Phase diagram of Fe-Mn-C at 1 100 °C and mag-

netic permeability of the alloys with various corn-
Fig. 2. Effect of solution annealing temperature and hold-
position balances.
ing time on magnetic permeability after water

quench.

both r (austenite) and s phases show antiferromag-

netic behavior7~ and that their magnetization is very
small like that of paramagnetic materials.
The effect of temperature for solution heat treat-
ment before water quenching on magnetic properties
is shown in Fig. 2. Steels whose composition comes
near the boundary of a and r phases have a high
magnetic permeability in as-rolled state and show a
low value after solution heat treatment, while steels
whose composition is within stable r phase show a
low constant value in each state.
Then, the selection of composition balance of C
and Mn having stable r or (r+s) phase is essential to
develop non-magnetic steels with much higher man-
ganese contents which are subjected to various work-
ing, heat treatment and welding processes.
2. Thermal Expansion Coefficient Fig. 3. Effect of C and Mn on thermal expansion coeffi-
cient, j3, of high Mn steels.
High manganese steels are characteristic of large
thermal expansion coefficient due to the presence of
austenite phase. The effect of C and Mn on the
average thermal expansion coefficient, f3, between
0 °C and 100 °C is presented in Fig. 3. This can be
summarized as follows :
(1) p decreases with decrease of C content.
(2) Such a decrease of j3depends on Mn content,
being small in the range of lON 13 % Mn and around
50 % Mn but large in the intermediate range of Mn.
(3) j3decreases with increase of Mn content.
(4) The extent of decrease in 30-.50 % Mn is
smaller than that below 30 % Mn.
The result leads to a following linear regression Fig. 4. Relation between Neel temperature , Tv, and ther-
mal expansion coefficient, jS.
equation concerning ~3(x10-6/°C), C and Mn,

/3=17.66+3.82 C(%)-O.22 Mn (%) as to Invar alloys whose thermal expansion coefficient

where a percentage variation is 85 %. The equation
may show that low thermal expansivity comparable
to that of low C steels can be obtained by adopting
high manganese steels with lower C and higher Mn
contents. This thermal expansion behavior is closely
related to the fact that high manganese steels show
antiferromagnetism. The relation between aRT (the
average thermal expansion coefficient between 0 °C
and 100 °C) and TN (the transition temperature be-
tween paramagnetic state and antiferromagnetic
state) is shown in Fig. 4. The figure shows a good
correspondence between them and JSRTdecreases with
increase of TN. This originates from the same reason
is extremely small.8-10) The reason is as follows :
spontaneous volume magnetostriction, which is caused
by magnetic interaction, becomes large with decreas-
ing temperature below either TN or Tc (Curie tem-
perature) which cancels the volume change due to
the lattice vibration, thereby small thermal expansion
being observed.
3. Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties at room temperature
(RT) are shown in Fig. 5 and can be summarized as
follows:
(1) The values of strength and elongation in ten-
sile test increase with C content.
(1012) Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982

Fig. 5.
Effect of C and Mn on mechanical properties of
high Mn steels at room temperature.

Fig. 6.
Effect of C and Mn on mechanical properties of
high Mn steels at -196°C.

(2) The strength, elongation and toughness in- steels.11 Thus it is desirable to select the suitable Mn
crease with Mn content up to 18 % Mn, and remain content for the steels employed to a variety of appli-
almost constant up to nearly 30 % Mn and rather cations.
decrease over 30 % Mn. Mechanical properties below RT of several high
Thus high manganese steels for room temperature manganese steels are shown in Fig. 7 with stainless
use may have an extensive possibility in determining steel which is conventionally used as low temperature
the C and Mn composition balances. The results at steels. The 1C-13Mn steel shows good properties
-196 °C are presented in Fig. 6 and can be sum- of strength and toughness at RT, but exhibits a
marized as follows : marked drop of ductility, toughness and strength at
(1) The strength increases with C content but is low temperatures. On the contrary, steels A and
strongly affected by Mn content. B have only a small fall of ductility and toughness
(2) When C content is constant, strength, elonga- at low temperatures.11,12~ Particularly steel B shows
tion and toughness increase with Mn content between high strength, good ductility and excellent toughness
10 % and 25 % Mn, but they are liable to decrease at low temperature.
over 25 % Mn. The results mentioned above were utilized to manu-
Therefore preferable manganese content of low facture high manganese non-magnetic steel products
temperature steels shall be lower than that of RT at works.
 Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982 (1013)

III. Production of High Manganese Non-mag- as low as that of plain low C steel. Then 24Mn-
netic Steels and an Example of Application 5Cr and 30 Mn steels are chosen in view of earlier
results. Another Mn steel of 17Mn-3Cr was selected
1. Productionof High ManganeseNon-magneticSteels and
to make round bars, which are used to produce bolts
Their Properties
and nuts. The 5 t ingots were melted by vacuum
Experiments were conducted on manufacturing induction furnace. H-shapes, round bars and de-
high manganese non-magnetic steel products includ- formed bars were produced by the following process
ing 13 Mn steel of H shapes, deformed bars and at works.
plates at works. The experiment is aimed at the
following : H-shape : Bloom Wide flange beams
1) Establishment of producing technique at works 120x 140x470-~H512x212x22x22
for high Mn steels containing over 13 % Mn
Round bar
2) Application of high Mn non-magnetic steels to Deformed
various types of products bar: Bloom Billet Steel bar Wire
3) Investigation of the properties of the products. -115Li--~80c
Chemical compositions and product sizes are shown
in Table 1. The size of H-shape is long, and de- 180
-l15----16O
formed bar is used with concrete. The thermal ex- 200 -115 ~D25 ---D 13
pansion coefficient of these products is required to be

(unit : mm)
Heating and hot rolling conditions were decided
from such material characteristics of steels as :
1) low melting point, that leads to easy burning on
heating
2) small thermal conductivity
3) large hot deformation resistance
4) large thermal expansion.
All the products were manufactured with the con-
ventional facilities though these high Mn steels have
a large hard-workability at high temperature.
The results of tensile test between -196 °C and
200 °C are shown in Figs. 8 and 9. It is shown that
all the steels are ductile even at -196 °C. Especially
Mn steels with higher Mn contents have good duc-
tility and high strength.
The temperature dependence of absorbed energy
is obtained by V-notch Charpy impact test and the
results of as-rolled products are presented in Fig. 10.
It is noted that steel with the same composition has
different absorbed energies from one product to an-
other. This is apparently due to the difference in
hot rolling conditions.
Properties at various positions of the products are
shown in Table 2. Each product exhibits the values
which are satisfactory enough as non-magnetic steels.
Fig. 7. Temperature dependence of mechanical properties The results of H-shapes, namely steels HA and HB
of high Mn non-magnetic steels and stainless steels. at various positions are presented in Fig. 11. The

Table 1. Details of 5 t vacuum melted high Mn steel ingots.

(1014) Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982

Fig . 8. Tensile properties of H-shapes as a function of test Fig. 9. Tensile properties of round bar and deformed bar
temperatures between -196 °C and 200 °C. as a function of test temperatures between -196 °C
and 200 °C.

Fig. 10. Charpy impact energy of H-shapes (a), and round bar and deformed bar (b)
as a function of test temperatures between -196 °C and 200 °C.

Table 2. Properties of high Mn steels shown in Table 1.

 Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982 (1015)

Fig. 12. Illustration of H-shape showing various specimen

positions.

Fig. 11. Variation in properties of H-shapes with specimens

at various positions.

symbols T, B and M, denote the ingot positions of

top, bottom and middle, respectively, and the nota-
tion X, Y, etc., are given in Fig. 12. The results indi-
cate large values of strength at the positions T4, B4,
MX and M4. The microstructure is shown in Photo.
1. This shows the existence of very fine structure
which is not crystallized enough and contains some
residual strain, leading to such high strength as indi-
cated above.

2. Example Applicationof High Manganese Non-magnetic

Steels to Non-magneticRollsfor ContinuousCasting
The following is an example of application of high
Mn steel to the non-magnetic rolls attached to elec-
tro-magnetic stirring (EMS) equipment on a con-
tinuous casting machine.
1. Specification and Chemical Composition
The specification of mechanical properties and per-
meability of the steel for this application is shown in
Table 3. Alloying compositions were determined in
consideration of the following items:
1) relation between alloying element and strength
2) high temperature strength and high temperature Photo. 1. Microstructures of H-shapes at each position shown
wear in Fig. 12.
3) magnetic stability and thermal expansion of '-
Table 3. Specification of non-magnetic EMS rolls for
phase continuous casting.
4) precipitation hardening effect of additional ele-
ments

5) machinability and weldability

6) productivity (hot workability).
The contribution of various elements to the strength
of 0.5C-13Mn3"3-15~ steel is shown in Table 4 as a
result of studies described earlier. Table 5 presents
the recommendable chemical compositions and esti-
mated strength at RT. It is a lower C and higher
(1016) Transactions Is", Vol. 22, 1982

Table 4. Change in strength of high Mn standard steel by addition of each element by 1 wt%.

Table 5. Recommendable c hemical composition for non-magnetic EMS roll and its estimated strength at room temperature.

Mn steel than Hadfield steel. Table 7. Mechanical properties of non-magnetic EMS

2. Production and Result of Test roll (240 mmO) having nominal composition
of 18Mn-5.5Cr after solution heat treatment
(1) Manufacturing Process at 1 080 °C for 6 h followed by water cooling.
Manufacturing process is as follows :
Melting and refining -* Blooming --~
(Electric Furnace, LRF (degassing)) [340 x 350]
Rolling of large structural steel --f Solution heat treat-
[240290 ~i5] (1 080 °C x 6 h WQ)
ment and water quenching -+ Material test -+
Machining --*Welding and finishing processing ->
[220 ~5,2700]
Continuous casting shop (unit : mm)

(2) Chemical Analysis of Molten Steel

The chemical analysis of molten steel is shown in
Table 6.
(3) Test Results of Physical and Mechanical Prop-
erties
Magnetic permeability, 1u, is shown to be 1.002N
1.012 in as-rolled and solution treated states and is
1.08 on a gas melt surface of the same steel. These
values satisfy the specification in Table 3. The aver-
age thermal expansion coefficient at RT is 14.5'-.'
15.2 x 10-6 °C-1. Table 7 shows the results of ten-
sile test and Charpy impact test at RT after solution
heat treatment at 1 080 °C for 6 h. Mechanical prop-
erties at RT also fill the specification in Table 3
and their values well correspond with the estimated
ones in Table 5 with the exception of the lower proof
stresses at high temperature than those in Table 3.
3. Results in Application
Two different sizes of rolls, 220 dia, and 270 dia.
were used as EMS rolls and a trouble happened to
cause an excessive bending of rolls. Since it was
inferred that this is attributed to a little too low high
temperature strength or proof stress, the EMS rolls
were submitted to a precipitation hardening at 820
°C for 8 h followed by furnace cooling . The results
are presented in Table 8, showing the increase in proof
stress by approximately 10 kgf/mm2. Practically both
precipitation heat treatment and newly constructed
installation of cooling water sprays on rolls largely
reduced the bending of rolls. It should be noticed
that no bending trouble happened on 270 dia. rolls.
Thus several disadvantages are pointed out in case
 Transactions Is", Vol. 22, 1982 (1017)

usual high Mn steels are subjected to high temperature 2) too small thermal conductivity,
application14,1s~: 3) too low high temperature strength (especially
1) too large thermal expansion coefficient, proof stress),
4) insufficient creep stress, and
Table 8. Mechanical properties of non-magnetic EMS 5) inferior high temperature corrosion resistance.
roll (240 mm~b) having nominal composition Much improvement in the items 3) and 5) has
of 18Mn-5.5Cr after age-hardening treat- been established in the present study.
ment. (1080 °C X6 h W.C. --~ 820 °C X 8 h F.C.)
Iv. Various Material Tests of High Manganese
Non-magnetic Steels
The steels (24Mn-5Cr, 0.6C-30Mn, 17Mn-3Cr,
18Mn-5.5Cr) mentioned in Sections III. 1 and 111.2
are so typical as high Mn non-magnetic steels that
various material tests were carried out on these steels
in the following way.

1. Physical and Mechanical Properties after SolutionHeat

Treatment
Physical properties are presented in Table 9. High
Mn steels are characterized by small thermal conduc-
tivity. The results of tensile test are shown in Fig.
13. Proof stress and tensile strength of solution heat
treated specimens are smaller by 20 30 kgf/mm2 than
those of as-rolled specimens. The results of V-notch
Charpy impact test are shown in Fig. 14. The im-
pact property of 24Mn-5C is much improved by solu-
tion heat treatment.

Table 9. Physical properties of high Mn non-magnetic steels along with low carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel.

Fig. 13.
Temperature dependence of tensile
properties of H-shapes (a), and CC-
EMS roll (b), subjected to solution
annealing and then water cooling.
 (1018 Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982

Fig. 14. Charpy impact energy of various high Mn steels

subjected to solution annealing and then water
cooling.

Fig. 16. Change in tensile properties of H-shapes and CC-

EMS rolls in the region of elevated temperatures.

Fig. 15. Proof stress, tensile strength and hardness

increase with cold reduction, whereas elongation de-
creases. Steels HA and HB show no change in mag-
netic susceptibility (x), but steel CC presents a cer-
tain increase when over 20 % cold reduction is given.

3. The Results of Tensile Test at High Temperature

A few studies have been reported on the high tem-
perature strength of high Mn steels. High tempera-
ture strength of steels HA, HB and CC after solution
heat treatment is shown in Fig. 16. The strength of
conventional high Mn steels is smaller than that of
either stainless steel or heat resistance steel. High
temperature strength (especially proof stress) is greatly
dependent on the composition, as is presented in these
results, and it is suggested that high Mn steels are
applicable to high temperature use if the composition
of steels was suitably chosen.

Fig. 15. Effect of cold rolling on mechanical and magnetic 4. Machinability

properties of various products at room tempera- High Mn steels exhibit a large work hardening
ture.
and good wear resistivity, which results in a poor
machinability. This is one of the reasons why the
2. Effect of Cold Rolling application of high Mn steels is limited though they
Tensile test and permeability measurement were have good mechanical and physical properties. Test
conducted in the cold-rolled state after solution heat in turning and drilling was performed with the steels
treatment. The results of RT test are presented in produced at the works to improve their machinability.
 Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982 (1019)

Tool life curves in turning of steels 13Mn, 17Mn- Table 10 and cutting oil was used during the test.
3Cr, 18Mn-5.5Cr(-lNi-0.5V), 24Mn-5Cr and SUS- The order of drill life can be arranged as follows with
304 are given in Fig. 17 under the test conditions 30 Mn steel as the best:
shown in the same figure. The steels tested can be
arranged as follows in the order of machinability, the 30Mn>24Mn-5Cr> 17Mn-3Cr> 13Mn.
most superior being SUS304 and the most inferior This indicates substantially the same tendency in case
13 Mn alloy. of the tool life in turning test. It is notable that the
SUS304>24Mn-5Cr> 17Mn-3Cr 30 Mn steel has good drill life on SKH9 drill.
> 18Mn-5.5Cr (SHT)>_ 18Mn-5.5Cr 5. Properties of Weld Joints
(as-rolled)> 13Mn. Welding tests were performed to study some weld-
ing properties of high manganese steels. Base metal
Drill life curves in boring of as-rolled steel products
of 13 Mn, 17Mn-3Cr, 24Mn-5Cr and 30 Mn are and welding conditions are presented in Table 11
shown in Fig. 18. Cutting condition is presented in along with the mechanical properties and magnetic
permeability of weld joints.
No crack was detected in weld joints by X-ray test.
The microstructure observation and side bend tests
also showed no particular defects in weld joints. The
magnetic permeability, p, was measured by " Mag-
netoscope " capable of nondestructive detection. p
of the weld joints stayed almost constant regardless
of position, and a small amount of increase of p was
observed near the welded boundary between the base
metal and SM50. Thus it can be said that high Mn
steels may be welded with either the same grade of
materials or different type of materials without any
serious troubles, referring to further tests carried out
to examine weldability in addition to the present test.

V. Conclusion
New high Mn non-magnetic steels that can be em-
ployed to extensive applications have been developed
Fig. 17. Tool life curves in turning of high Mn steels. from the study of their physical and mechanical prop-
erties.
Then, H-shapes, round bars and deformed bars
were manufactured at works using 5 t vacuum melted

Table 10. Cutting conditions for d rill ing test.

Fig. 18. Drill life curves in boring of high Mn steels.

Table 11. Base metal, welding condition and mechanical properties and magnetic permeability of weld joints.
(1020) Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 22, 1982

ingots, aiming at the study of their various properties 6) H. Takada: The Special Steel, 28 (1979), No. 5, 8.
as well as establishment of production processes. As 7) S. Chikazumi, K. Ota, K. Adachi, N. Tsuya and Y. Ishi-
kawa : Handbook of Magnetic Materials (in Japanese),
a result, these products were confirmed to exhibit
Asakura Shoten, Tokyo, (1975), 397.
excellent properties. In addition, manufacture of
8) S. Chikazumi and T. Mizoguchi : Solid State Physics (in
non-magnetic rolls attached to an EMS equipment on
Japanese), 3 (1968), 67.
a continuous casting machine was described together 9) H. Saito and H. Fujimori: Bull. Japan Inst. Metals, 7
with the results of the mechanical and physical prop-
(1968), 263.
erties of those products. 10) S. Chikazumi, K. Ota, K. Adachi, N. Tsuya and Y. Ishi-
New high Mn non-magnetic steels are expected to kawa: Handbook of Magnetic Materials (in Japanese),
be applied to a wide variety of uses ranging from Asakura Shoten, Tokyo, (1975), 341.
cryogenic to high temperature besides at room tem- 11) T. Sasaki, K. Watanabe, K. Nohara, N. Kondo, Y. Ono,
S. Sato and I. Ichise : Tetsu-to-Hagane, 67 (1981), A81.
perature as structural steels.
12) T. Sasaki, K. Watanabe, K. Nohara, Y. Ono and N.
Ohashi : Tetsu-to-Hagane, 66 (1980), 5351.
13) K. J. Irvine, T. Gladman and F. B. Pickering: JISI, 207
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