Abstract

High-chromium ferritic stainless steels have been developed for applications such as exhaust systems that require good formability. To improve formability, continuous yielding is preferred. However, in high-chromium ferritic stainless steels an upper yield point is often present as a result of free interstitials and Cottrell atmospheres. The upper yield point can be removed by temper rolling but it would be better to avoid it via a suitable heat treatment. This paper describes how this can be done in the case of a ferritic stainless steel containing 0.011%C, 0.012%N, 18%Cr, 2,1%Mo, 0.33%Nb, 0.15Ti%. Despite the presence of Nb and Ti, which should bind the free carbon and nitrogen as carbides and nitrides, an upper yield point was still observed. Previously it has been suspected that this is due to an intermetallic Laves phase present in this steel depleting the Nb in the matrix so that some carbon remains free. A series of short-term annealing experiments showed that the upper yield point diminishes, when the annealing temperature increases above 550 °C, finally disappearing after a heat treatment at 750 °C. On the basis of Thermo-Calc calculations and EDS analyses, free interstitials in the matrix could be related to depletion of MX or insufficient time to reach the equilibrium state.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

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.