Medium Mn steels (MMnSs) have recently emerged as a promising candidate for automotive applications due to the possibility of achieving a wide range of mechanical properties through various processing strategies. In this regard, several processing routes have been developed to enhance the final mechanical properties of MMnSs. In this study, we investigated the deforming and partitioning (D&P) process to enhance the mechanical properties of a 6 wt. % Mn steel. 

Hot-rolled and intercritically annealed specimens of the steel were cold-rolled at room temperature and subsequently partitioned at low temperatures ranging from 250 to 400 °C for 5 minutes. The resulting microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were evaluated using electron microscopy and tensile testing. The cold-rolled sample exhibited high strength of 1630 MPa and a total elongation of 12%. Partitioning at 400 °C for 5 minutes significantly increased ductility while only marginally affecting strength. 

These findings suggest that the D&P process can be an effective strategy for enhancing mechanical properties in MMnSs. This study also provides valuable insights into the optimization of MMnSs for automotive applications and highlights the importance of selecting appropriate processing routes to achieve desired mechanical properties.