Javad Mola

Segregation-Induced Enhancement of Low-Temperature Tensile Ductility in a Cast High-Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel Exhibiting Deformation-Induced α′ Martensite Formation

In spite of the formation of a high fraction of deformation-induced α′ martensite, the tensile elongation of a cast high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel was found to enhance at lower temperatures, a behavior deviating from that exhibited by wrought and homogenized austenitic stainless steels. The observed behavior was explained by the presence of microstructural regions with different stabilities with respect to deformation-induced α′ martensite formation caused by the segregation of alloying elements.

Dilatometry Analysis of Dissolution of Cr-Rich Carbides in Martensitic Stainless Steels

The dissolution of Cr-rich carbides formed in the martensitic constituent of a 13 pct Cr stainless steel was studied by dilatometry and correlative electron channeling contrast examinations. The dissolution of carbides subsequent to the martensite reversion to austenite was associated with a net volume expansion which in turn increased the dilatometry-based apparent coefficient of thermal expansion (CTEa) during continuous heating. The effects of carbides fraction and size on the CTEa variations during carbides dissolution are discussed.

Tensile elongation of lean-alloy austenitic stainless steels: transformation-induced plasticity versus planar glide

ABSTRACT An Fe–13Cr–3.4Mn–0.47C lean-alloy stainless steel was made austenitic by solution annealing at 1250°C. Tensile tests between 20 and 200°C indicated enhancement of ductility at higher temperatures. At 200°C where planar glide, manifested as deformation twinning, was the dominant deformation mechanism, a uniform tensile elongation of 102% was achieved. At 20°C where deformation-induced α′-martensitic transformation replaced deformation twinning as the dominant deformation mechanism, tensile elongation was significantly impaired. The tensile elongation contribution by the planar glide was estimated to be at least four times that of the α′-TRIP (transformation-induced plasticity) mechanism. The results indicate that inexpensive lean-alloy austenitic stainless steels exhibiting pronounced α′-formation at room temperature could become highly formable at higher temperatures.

Nanoscale partitioning of Mn between austenite and martensite revealed by Curie temperature variations

Abstract The partitioning of Mn between deformation-induced martensite and austenite phases of a Fe−18Mn−2Al−2Si−0.04C high-Mn steel was studied by tracking variations in the Curie temperature of martensite after exposure to successively higher annealing temperatures. The increase in Curie temperature was justified by the Mn depletion of martensite. Assuming a linear relationship between the Curie temperature and Mn concentration, the average Mn concentration of martensite was expressed as a function of annealing temperature. The proposed method, which is applicable in a dilatometer with inductive heating, enables the ready estimation of Mn partitioning in intercritically annealed medium- and high-Mn steels.