Parametric and microstructural analysis of cryogenically treated austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

In the present investigation, the parametric and microstructural analysis of the conventionally-heat-treated and cryogenically-treated austenitic stainless steel i.e., 316L was explored to find the most dominating control factor against slurry erosion. For this purpose, a slurry erosion testing apparatus was self-fabricated to perform the experimental work.Tests were performed following Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to study the erosion wear (EW) strength of steel. The results illustrate that the erosion wear upsurges correspondingly with changing variables i.e., impact velocity and impingement angle. The rise in particle size has also increased erosion until it reaches 300 µm, a further rise in particle size diminishes erosion. It was confirmed from the response table that the impact velocity is the most dominating control factor against slurry erosion, followed by slurry concentration. The contribution of particle size and the impingement angle was less significant. However, the erosion wear concert of cryogenically-treated steel was found 13.38% improved than the conventionally treated steel. Finally, the scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM) analysis of the conventionally heat-treated and cryogenically treated stainless steel samples was carried out to analyze the microstructural changes.