AbstractSpecimens of Type 304 stainless steel have been deformed in torsion at temperatures of 950–1150°C and annealed for different times before quenching or continuing the deformation. The kinetics of static recrystallization and the recrystallized grain size have been determined by quantitative metallography. Increasing strain and decreasing original grain size both reduce recrystallization time and recrystallized grain size. Increasing strain rate and decreasing temperature of deformation have a similar, but smaller effect. Annealing temperature also strongly influences recrystallization time (activation energy 425 kJ mol−1), but not recrystallized grain size. The effects of all the experimental variables are described in terms of simple parametric relationships. The kinetics of static restoration have been determined both from hardness tests on quenched specimens and from interrupted torsion tests. The extent of restoration is related in a non-linear manner to fraction recrystallized. This arises par...
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