Strain-induced Martensite Research Articles

Strain-induced martensite formation in cryorolled AISI 317 L stainless steel

AISI 317 L stainless steel replaces 316 L grade in some applications due to its superior mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Aiming at expanding its applicability to structural applications, ongoing studies are dedicated to overcoming the trade-off between strength and ductility. The stacking fault energy decreases with deformation temperature and favors stacking faulting, (nano)twinning and strain-induced martensite (SIM) formation, resulting in severe microstructural fragmentation. The effect of temperature on deformation behavior of AISI 317 L steel was investigated in samples rolled at room temperature to thickness reductions of 50% and 85% and at 77 K to reductions in thickness of 10% and 50%. The microstructural evolution was followed by scanning electron microscopy, Vickers microhardness, X-ray diffraction, magnetization, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI). The nucleation sites in the early stages of the transformation sequence γ → ε → α’ were identified in the 10% cryorolled sample. The highest volume fraction of α’-martensite reached 45.8% in the cryorolled steel to 50% rolling reduction. Much lower fractions were obtained for samples rolled to 10% reduction at 77 K (2%) and at room temperature to 50% (0.3%) and 85% reductions (1.6%). The texture components after cryorolling were Goss and Brass for austenite; rotated cube, α- and γ-fibers for δ-ferrite and α’-martensite. The ε-martensite presents the typical texture of hcp metals with a c/a ratio above the ideal value and 〈0001〉 − oriented tilted about 21° from the normal direction towards the rolling direction. The results show cryorolling as an effective method for enhancing SIM formation and promoting severe microstructural refinement in AISI 317 L stainless steel.

Role of Austenite Stability in Elevated Temperature Mechanical Properties of Gas Metal Arc-Directed Energy Deposition Austenitic Stainless Steels

A gas metal-directed energy deposition process was used to fabricate builds using two commercial weld fillers used in power generation applications, 16-8-2 and 316H. Microstructure stability and mechanical properties were investigated through room-temperature and elevated temperature tensile testing and creep testing at 650°C, 750°C, and 825°C. 16-8-2 exhibited reduced austenite stability which resulted in athermal martensite formation after aging at 650°C for 1000 h and strain-induced martensite formation during room-temperature tensile testing. 316H exhibited relatively higher austenite stability due to increased alloying content, resulting in no athermal martensite or strain-induced martensite. Due to lower austenite stability, ferrite formed during creep at 650°C in 16-8-2, which resulted in reduced creep life and lower creep ductility compared to 316H. At 750°C and 825°C, when ferrite is no longer thermodynamically stable, 16-8-2 exhibited longer creep life and similar creep ductility as 316H. The formation of ferrite in 16-8-2 appears to have a greater impact on creep performance than the formation of embrittling topologically close-packed phases like the σ phase, as 316H exhibited superior creep performance while predicted to form 14 vol.% σ phase at 650°C.

Effect of δ–ferrite and strain-induced martensite on hydrogen embrittlement of STS 308 L and STS 316 L all-weld metals

The susceptibility of multipass flux-cored arc welds of STSs 308 L and 316 L to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) was investigated at various temperatures. Cracks predominantly initiated and propagated along the δ-ferrite in the interdendritic region at 25 °C. δ-ferrite served as preferred hydrogen trap sites, and the δ/γ boundary became the stress concentration site. At −100 °C, STSs 308 L and 316 L exhibited high susceptibility to HE owing to strain-induced martensite formation, providing additional hydrogen trap sites and dislocation accumulation. Despite strain-induced martensite actively transformed at −196 °C, the HE disappeared owing to the sluggish diffusion of hydrogen to stress-concentrated areas.

Effects of Severe Plastic Deformation and Subsequent Annealing on Microstructures of a Ni50.6Ti49.4 Shape Memory Alloy

High-pressure torsion (HPT) was applied to the Ni50.6Ti49.4 (at. %) alloy ingot up to 1/4, 2, 16, 32 and 48 turns under a pressure of 6.0 GPa. The samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and microhardness measurement. The results indicate that martensitic transformation and formation of amorphous phase occurred during the HPT process. As the HPT turns increased, more amorphous phase formed. The fraction of amorphization was analyzed based on the X-ray results. The microhardness increased with the HPT turns, which may be related to strain-induced martensite transformation, formation of the amorphous phase, increased dislocation densities and grain refinement. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test revealed that shape memory alloys can be produced by HPT and post-HPT annealing from a NiTi ingot.

Evolution of Microstructure and Crystallographic Texture in Deformed and Annealed BCC Metals and Alloys: A Review

Dislocation slips, twinning, shear banding (SBs), strain localization, and martensite formation are a few deformation modes that are activated in BCC metals and alloys. Strain, strain rate, and deformation temperature are other parameters that determine the activation of deformation modes in BCC alloys. This review focuses on several BCC alloys, such as beta-titanium (β-Ti), tantalum (Ta), and ferritic stainless steels (FSSs), all of which exhibit differences in deformation behavior. These alloys often undergo thermo-mechanical processing (TMP) to enhance their mechanical properties. TMP leads to the evolution of deformation-induced products, such as SBs, strain-induced martensite (SIM), strain localizations, and mechanical/deformation twins (DTs) during plastic deformation, while also influencing crystallographic texture. The deformation modes in β-Ti depend upon the stability of the β-phase (i.e., β-stabilizers); low-stability alloys show the formation of SIM along with slips and twins, whereas in highly stable β-Ti alloys, only slip+twin modes are observed as the primary deformation mechanisms. In the case of Ta, slip activity predominantly occurs on {110} planes, but it can also occur on planes with the highest resolved shear stress. The breakdown of Schmid’s law or non-Schmid behavior for Ta and Ta-W alloys has been discussed in detail. The cold rolling (CR) of FSSs results in the formation of ridges, which is an undesirable phenomenon leading to very low formability. The microstructures of the rolled sheets consist of elongated ferrite grains with in-grain SBs, which are preferentially formed in the γ-fiber-oriented grains. The formation of finer grains after recrystallization improves both the mechanical properties and ridging resistance in FSS. Therefore, this review comprehensively reports on the impact of TMP on the microstructural and crystallographic texture evolution during the plastic deformation and annealing treatment of β-Ti, Ta alloys, and FSSs in BCC materials, using results obtained from electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Effects of Mean Normal Stress on Strain-Hardening, Strain-Induced Martensite Transformation, and Void-Formation Behaviors in High-Strength TRIP-Aided Steels

To analyze various types of cold formability in TRIP-aided polygonal ferrite (TPF), annealed martensite (TAM), and bainitic ferrite (TBF) steels, the effects of the mean normal stress on the strain-hardening, strain-induced martensite transformation, and void-formation behaviors were investigated. The strain-hardening behavior was influenced by positive mean normal stress and was hardly influenced by zero and negative mean normal stresses in all steels. Positive mean normal stress promoted the strain-induced martensitic transformation behavior, especially in TBF steel due to the high mechanical stability of the retained austenite. The void-formation behavior was also promoted by positive mean normal stress, especially in TPF steel. These behaviors were also related to the microstructural properties, such as the matrix structure, retained austenite characteristics, and second phase.

TRANSFORMATION OF RETAINED AUSTENITE AND PORTEVIN-LE CHATELIER EFFECT IN 44CRMN2SI2MO STEEL UNDER TENSION

The 44CrMn2Si2Mo steel heat treated by quenching and partitioning demonstrates a unique combination of strength characteristics: yield strength σ0.2 = 1140 MPa, ultimate strength σВ = 1690 MPa, and elongation δ = 20.7%. Quenching and partitioning leads to the formation of a multiphase structure consisting of primary martensite, retained austenite, bainite, and secondary martensite. Primary martensite and bainite contain Fe2C transition carbides. The high ductility of the steel is due to the transformation of retained austenite into strain-induced martensite during tension, which ensures high strain hardening. Stable plastic flow is observed at low strain, when a significant fraction of retained austenite is transformed into strain-induced martensite. The plastic flow instability, which is referred to as the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect on deformation curves and plastic flow localization in deformation bands, occurs at higher strains and is associated with the transformation of film-like retained austenite. The velocity of deformation bands decreases with a decrease in the volume fraction of retained austenite. Localization of plastic flow in the neck and fracture occur when the transformation of retained austenite into strain-induced martensite cannot provide strain hardening, and deformation bands lose their mobility.

STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS AND ELASTIC MODULUS OF METASTABLE AUSTENITIC STEELS

This work is devoted to studying the influence of cyclic deformation on the elastic moduli of metastable austenitic steel. The estimated calculation of the modules of the strain-induced martensite and the modules of the matrix of the material (austenite) in the Voigt approximation. The modulus calculations were made according to the ultrasonic wave velocity measurements taking into account changes in the density of the material due to the difference in the volumes of the unit cells of the matrix and the ??-martensite. The volume fraction of ??-martensite and its change during cyclic deformation were determined by the eddy-current method. The influence of the strain cycle amplitude on the increase in the volume fraction of martensite was studied. The dependences of the relative change in Young's modulus, shear modulus, volume compression modulus on the number of loading cycles for metastable steel 12Kh18N10T are given. Relationships between the moduli change and the characteristics of cyclic loading of steel are obtained: the hardening of the material and the energy density in the cycle, used to calculate the service life using the methods of deformable solid mechanics. Studies shown that the critical change in the modules corresponding to the appearance of a microcrack depends on the strain cycle amplitude.The maximum change in the modules of metastable steel 12Kh18N10T was 4.5%; that by an order more than in steels that don't undergo phase transformations. A high degree of correlation between the change in elastic moduli and the fatigue characteristics of metastable austenitic steel is revealed: the hardening of the material and the energy density in the cycle. Correlations between the fatigue life of 12Kh18N10T steel and the change in elastic modulus – shear modulus and Young's modulus are obtained, which makes it possible to assess the state of the studied steel based on acoustic measurements.

Enhanced corrosion resistance of CoCrMo by laser-based surface modification

Biomedical grade cobalt–chromium–molybdenum (CoCrMo) alloys are extensively used for load-bearing biomedical applications such as hip and knee implants due to their exceptional biocompatible and biomechanical properties. However, the strain-induced martensite ε-phase development during contact loading results in thin oxide layers that are prone to fracture leading to corrosion. The formation of thin oxide layers is undesirable for long-term deployment. We employed laser-texturing to enhance the corrosion resistance of the material in simulated body fluid by the formation of hcp ε-phase martensite and via the formation of oxide layers. However, partial formation of hcp ε-phase martensite was observed. By means of central composite design-based response surface methodology, three laser parameters such as average laser power, texture density and the number of passes were optimised for maximal open circuit potential, an indicator for minimal corrosion. The textured surfaces were found to assist in the cellular proliferation of fibroblasts and inhibit bacterial growth.

XRD-Analysis of the Relation of Stacking Fault Formation and the TRIP-Effect in ADI

The mechanical properties of ausferritic ductile iron are strongly influenced by the ability of the austenite to undergo martensite formation. Strain-induced martensite formation occurring under the right circumstances results in transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) that improves ductility and strength. TRIP has been shown to depend on the austenite’s stacking fault energy (SFE), which describes the crystals micromechanical behaviour. In austenitic FeMnAlSi-TRIP steels, TRIP as a reaction to mechanical load only occurs for SFE <20 mJ/m2. For carbon-stabilised austenite as in ADI, the relationship between stacking faults, mechanical properties and martensitic transformation has not yet been established. To investigate the TRIP-effect in ADI, unalloyed ADI with 3.43 wt% C, 2.52 wt% Si and 0.21 wt% Mn was ausferritised and subjected to tensile tests at temperatures between −180 °C and 200 °C. The amount of martensite produced by thermal and mechanical activation, crystalline microstrain and stacking fault density were measured on deformed and undeformed regions of the specimen by XRD and the resulting SFE calculated. Between −70 and 20 °C, the elongation at fracture exceeded 10 % compared to below 2 % in the temperature range of −130 to −180 °C. At temperatures above 80 °C, elongation at fracture gradually decreased to 4.5 % at 200 °C. High sample ductility was associated with lower SFEs as low as 35 mJ/m2, indicating a correlation of stacking fault formation and strain-induced martensite formation in ADI.

Behavior of TRIP-aided medium Mn steels investigated by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments and microstructure-based micromechanical modelling

Medium Mn steels belong to a new generation of advanced high-strength steels whose superior mechanical properties are explained by their ultrafine-grained ferrite/austenite/martensite microstructures and a possible transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) related to the stability of retained austenite. The mechanical behaviour of a set of model medium Mn steels is investigated during tensile testing using a combination of high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and digital image correlation (DIC) measurements. HEXRD allows for the time-resolved determination of transformation kinetics and in situ stress partitioning among the different constituting phases. DIC provides precise spatiotemporal information on the strain evolution along the gauge length, particularly at the position of the diffracting volume. These experiments served to calibrate an innovative mean field micromechanical model which accounts for the local behaviour of each phase, as well as the strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) of retained austenite. The work-hardening of both austenite and ferrite is modeled using a dislocation-based size-sensitive approach which includes kinematic hardening contributions. The behaviours of fresh and strain-induced martensite are predicted using a genuine model derived from the continuous composite approach. The model for SIMT is based on a thermodynamic assessment of the stability of retained austenite. The overall model is thus sensitive to the size of the microstructure components, their local chemistry, and their respective stability.

Effect of retained austenite on impact-abrasion wear performance of high-strength wear-resistant steel prepared by dynamic partitioning process

The ductility and toughness of the high-strength wear-resistant steels can be improved by introducing retained austenite. However, the influence of retained austenite on the impact-abrasion wear resistance remains uncertain. This study investigates the effect of retained austenite on the impact wear performance of martensitic wear-resistant steel by introducing 5.2–9.2 vol% retained austenite through the dynamic partitioning (DP) process. The results display that the microstructures of the various DP-treated steels primarily consist of lath martensite and film-like retained austenite distributed between martensite laths. The three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis demonstrates that the retained austenite exhibits a significantly higher carbon concentration than the martensite, with carbon enrichment increasing gradually from the edge to the core of the retained austenite. In short-term impact wear tests (10 min), the weight loss of DP-treated steels is inversely proportional to the volume fraction of retained austenite. Conversely, in the long-term impact wear tests (20–90 min), it is positively proportional to the volume fraction of retained austenite. Initially, the strain-induced martensite transformed from retained austenite can absorb more impact energy, passivate the crack, and inhibit crack propagation, which is the dominant factor contributing to improved wear resistance. However, as impact wear progresses, the detrimental effects arising from the high hardness and poor plastic deformation ability of the strain-induced martensite become dominant, accelerating crack propagation during long-term impact wear tests. This study may provide insights into the microstructure design of the martensitic wear-resistant steels under impact wear conditions, specifically regarding the role of retained austenite.

Magnetic non-destructive monitoring of a ship's propeller blade after long-term operation

This study examines the potential of magnetic non-destructive techniques for monitoring surface damage to ship propeller blades made of stainless steel. The propeller considered in this investigation operated for 35 years in the Danube river. Sheet and vortex cavitations, as well as random mechanical impacts on the trailing and leading edges, were detected as the major mechanisms of damage to the blade. Non-destructive monitoring of this damage was based on the Barkhausen noise and Helmholtz feritscope techniques. The blades investigated here had a composite structure in which the ferrite stainless body was mixed with the deposition of austenite on the trailing and especially the leading edges. Damage to the ferritic phase was mostly associated with sheet cavitation and a decreasing magnitude of Barkhausen noise as a result of repetitive plastic deformation. Conversely, vortex cavitation and random impacts to the edges in the austenite regions were associated with increasing Barkhausen noise due to strain-induced martensite transformation, a result that was also confirmed by data obtained from a Helmholtz feritscope. Information about plastic deformation and the fraction of strain-induced transformation was also confirmed by X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction techniques.

Achieving ultra-high flow stress and hardness in a medium Mn stainless steel by the formation of strain-induced martensite and G-phase precipitates

This work demonstrates how the deformation of a medium Mn austenitic stainless steel and its subsequent thermal treatment results in the steel having an ultra-high flow stress, and with a microstructure containing strain-induced martensite (α′) and G-phase precipitates. A 14 wt.%Cr-8 wt.%Mn-1 wt.%Ni austenitic stainless steel was uniaxially compressed at room temperature and quasi-static strain rates to determine the evolution of strain-induced martensite with strain. Uniaxial compression resulted in a sigmoidal stress-strain curve (enhanced work-hardening) with the flow stress reaching ∼2.2 GPa, and the α′ fraction saturating at 0.8 true strain. Atom-probe tomography showed that aging at 400 °C for 72 h formed 2–3 nm sized G-phase precipitates containing Cu-rich clusters and having a nominal composition of Ni8Si2Mn20Cu17Cr8Fe44. Such a microstructure resulted in a steel with an ultra-high tensile strength and a compressive flow stress of around 2 GPa. Though the tensile ductility was low, there was sufficient flowability in compression.

Unusual step-like stress flow behavior and mechanisms of a 1.3 GPa grade medium-Mn steel with 51.2 % ductility

A Fe-8.9Mn-1.59Si-1.0Al-0.25C medium-Mn steel have achieved a superior combination of strength and ductility, i.e., the product of strength and elongation (PSE) of 66.5 GPa%. Meanwhile, an unusual step-like stress–strain curve due to heterogeneous deformation bands including Lüders band and multiple Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) bands was investigated systematacially. The repeated heterogeneous deformation is due to a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The former refers a small stress concentration near the grip ends of the tensile sample, and the latter is associated with low density of initial mobile dislocations, limited capacity of mobile dislocation multiplication and the presence of meta-stable austenite. As for meta-stable austenite, stress-assisted martensite transformation (SAMT) was confirmed experimentally, which will facilitate strain concentration and the starting of heterogeneous deformation. Moreover, before strain-induced martensite transformation (SIMT), it is the plastic deformation of austenite grains through the slip of partial dislocation and stacking faults (SFs) that contributes to a larger Lüders strain. Finally, we propose that whether it is possible to make the heterogeneous deformation to be a positive side for certain working conditions, which may open new doors for the application of medium-Mn steels. We will continue to do some exploratory studies in this direction next.

Relationships between Strength, Ductility and Fracture Toughness in a 0.33C Steel after Quenching and Partitioning (Q&amp;P) Treatment

The effect of quenching and partitioning (Q&amp;P) processing on strength, ductility and fracture toughness is considered in a 0.33% C-1.8% Si-1.44 Mn-0.58% Cr steel. The steel was fully austenitized at 900 °C and quenched to 210 °C for 30 s. Partitioning at 350 °C for 600 s produces a martensitic matrix with transition carbides, bainitic ferrite and film-like retained austenite (RA) that is stable against transformation to strain-induced martensite under tension. This processing provided the highest strength and fracture toughness but the lowest ductility and product of strength and elongation (PSE), σB·δ (MPa·%). Partitioning at 500 °C produced RA with a relatively low carbon content and low volume fraction of carbides. The steel after this Q&amp;P processing exhibits the highest ductility and PSE but low YS and Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact toughness. High ductility and PSE correlate with the ability of RA to transform into strain-induced martensite, while high strength and impact toughness are associated with the high-volume fraction of transition carbides in the carbon-depleted martensitic matrix and a lack of transformation of RA to strain-induced martensite. The highest CVN impact energy was attained in the steel exhibiting transgranular quasi-cleavage fracture with the lowest effective grain size for brittle fracture. No correlation between strength, ductility and fracture toughness is observed in Q&amp;P steels if these materials have distinct structural constituents.

Hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel: Influence of post-processing, printing direction, temperature and pre-straining

The influence of post-build processing on the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of additively manufactured (AM) 316L stainless steel fabricated using laser powder bed fusion was assessed at both room temperature and −50 °C via uniaxial tensile experiments. In the absence of hydrogen at ambient temperature, all four evaluated AM conditions (as-built (AB), annealed (ANN), hot isostatic pressed (HIP), and HIP plus cold worked (CW) to 30%) exhibit notably reduced ductility relative to conventionally manufactured (CM) 316L stainless steel. The AM material exhibits sensitivity to the build direction, both in the presence and absence of hydrogen, with a notable increase in yield strength in the X direction and enhanced ductility in the Z direction. Conversely, testing of non-charged specimens at −50 °C revealed similar ductility between the CM, AB, ANN, and HIP conditions. Upon hydrogen charging, the ductility of all four AM conditions was found to be similar to that of CM 316L at ambient temperature, with the HIP condition actually exceeding the CM material. Critically, testing of hydrogen-charged samples at −50 °C revealed that the ductility of the HIP AM 316L condition was nearly double that observed in the CM 316L. This improved performance persisted even after cold working, as the CW AM 316L exhibited comparable ductility to CM 316L at −50 °C after hydrogen charging, despite having a 2-fold higher yield strength. Feritscope measurements suggest this increased performance is related to the reduced propensity for AM 316L to form strain-induced martensite during deformation, even after significant post-processing treatments. These results demonstrate that AM 316L can be post-processed using typical procedures to exhibit similar to or even improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement relative to CM 316L.

Multibranches of acoustic emission as identifier for deformation mechanisms in additively manufactured 316L stainless steel

The multiple collapse mechanisms of complex materials produced by additive manufacturing (AM) were identified by measurements of the acoustic emission (AE) of the samples under tension. A perfect correlation between AE avalanches and deformation mechanisms is shown to hold in the extremely complex AM metallic materials such as ‘as-built’ and ‘stress-relieved’ AM 316L stainless steel (SS). The main criterion is that multibranches of the energy-amplitude scaling in AE proves the coexistence of several deformation mechanisms. The as-built AM 316L SS shows three branches in the energy-amplitude scaling of AE signals, which originate from dislocation movements, twinning-detwinning processes and stress-induced martensitic transformations. After stress-relieving annealing at 600 °C for 1 h, two branches remain visible with the dominant deformation mechanisms of dislocation movement and twinning-detwinning. The energy exponent of dislocation avalanches is ε = 1.6, which is not affected by the heat treatment. The twinning-detwinning exponent increases from 1.8 to 2.0 after annealing. The avalanche behavior of the martensitic transformation shows power laws with energy exponents near ε = 1.65 in stress-induced martensite in as-built AM 316L SS and ε = 1.8 for strain-induced martensite in stress-relieved AM 316L SS. This multibranching phenomenon can, thus, be used to identify the mechanisms underlying the deformation of AM-alloys and facilitates online monitoring of deformation processes.

Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior of a Commercial QP980 Steel

The hydrogen embrittlement (HE) behavior of a commercial QP980 steel is studied in this work. The HE susceptibility results indicate that QP980 suffers from a severe HE, and the fracture mode transforms from ductile dimpling to brittle quasi-cleavage under the attack of hydrogen. The EBSD results show that strain-induced martensite transformation can rarely occur at a strain close to the HE fracture strain, which is mainly attributed to the high mechanical stability of austenite. The TKD-KAM analysis results indicate that hydrogen-induced strain localization in martensite can be mitigated by the hydrogen-trapping effect of surrounding austenite, while it is most pronounced in martensite adjacent to ferrite. Correspondingly, HE cracking is considered to initiate in martensite adjacent to ferrite under the synergistic action of HELP and HEDE mechanisms, and then cracks can propagate through ferrite or along phase interfaces. Our findings suggest that to further improve the HE resistance of QP steel with stable austenite, it is necessary to consider introducing effective hydrogen-trapping sites (such as carbides, film austenite) into martensite, which is deemed to be beneficial for increasing the resistance against hydrogen-induced cracking initiation in martensite.

Effect of Thermo-Mechanical Processing on Initiation and Propagation of Stress Corrosion Cracking in 304L Austenitic Stainless Steel

Despite the high corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels (SSs), a significant reduction of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance has been reported in cases of high residual stress and metastable microstructural features. In this study, the effect of thermo-mechanical processing (TMP) on the initiation and propagation of SCC in 304L SS was studied. To better understand the SCC mechanisms, three TMPs conditions—welded, solution annealed at 1050 °C for tens of seconds, and straightened—were used. The research focused on analyzing the initial microstructure, residual stress, and hardness along the depth direction to assess SCC resistance and establish correlations with the observed SCC modes. Experimental results demonstrated that transgranular SCC was observed in regions exhibiting elevated residual stress induced by welding and straightening processes. Furthermore, the presence of strain-induced martensite transformation and slip bands formed during plastic deformation were identified as additional factors contributing to the susceptibility of SCC. The study findings highlighted that the magnitude and distribution of residual stresses, in conjunction with microstructural evolution, could be varied depending on the specific TMP condition, leading to different SCC susceptibilities, cracking modes, and directions.