Abstract
The distribution of elements and the precipitation behaviour at grain boundaries have been studied in boron containing AISI 316L and “Mo-free AISI 316L” type austenitic stainless steels. A combination of microanalytical techniques was used to study the boundary regions after cooling at 0.29–530°C/s from 800, 1075 or 1250°C. Tetragonal M 2B, M 5B 3 and M 3B 2, all rich in Fe, Cr and Mo, precipitated in the “high B” (40 ppm) AISI 316L steel whereas orthorhombic M 2B, rich in Cr and Fe, was found in the “Mo-free steel” with 23 ppm B. In the “high B steel” a thin (<2 nm), continuous layer, containing B, Cr, Mo and Fe and having a stoichiometry of typically M 9B, formed at boundaries after cooling at intermediate cooling rates. For both types of steels a boundary zone was found, after all heat treatments, with a composition differing significantly from the bulk composition. The differences were most marked after cooling at intermediate cooling rates. In both types of steel boundary depletion of Cr and enrichment of B and C occurred. It was found that non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation of boron can affect the precipitation behaviour by making the boundary composition enter a new phase field. “Non-equilibrium phases” might also form. The synergistic effect of B and Mo on the boundary composition and precipitation behaviour, and the observed indications of C non-equilibrium segregation are discussed.
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