Abstract
The mechanism of microstructure evolution of 304 stainless steel (SS) during equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 500°C was investigated systematically by optical microscope (OM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the refining mechanism of microstructure of 304 SS during ECAP behaviors as a hybrid model consisting of dislocation-subdivision mechanism and twin fragmentation mechanism, resulting in three kinds of nanostructure domains: (1) the equiaxial nano-grains with curving grain boundaries (GBs) having high angles of misorientation resulted from the cross-slip and movement of dislocations; (2) the equiaxial nano-grains with smooth and distinct boundaries resulted from the intersection between primary deforming twin bundles; (3) the secondary nano-twins formed in the primary deforming twins. The average nano-grain size ultimately obtained is in the range of 80nm to 120nm and the nano-twins have a width of 20–40nm and a length of 100 to a few hundred nm. A low content about 10% (V/V) of deformation-induced martensite (DIM) is obtained in the first pass and remains almost constant during further passes of ECAP. The refining mechanism of DIM is also a hybrid model, including the refinement of banded DIM by the intersection with slipping bands and the newly induced fine martensite in submicron and nanometer grained austenite matrix.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.