Modification of microstructure and hardness properties of stainless steel through thermomechanical treatment

Abstract EN

The influence of thermomechanical treatments on the microstructural properties of stainless steel D9 alloy steel was studied.

The thermomechanical treatments using cold work followed by aging in the temperature range 700C- 850C has been conducted.

The cold work was varied from 15 to 25% at interval of 5%.

In the temperature range 700C -750C , the stability of the cold worked microstructure was enhanced by the retardation of recovery and recrystallization by TiC precipitation.

The retardation was more effective for 20% cold work than for other cold work levels.

At temperature of 800C and 850C , the degree of retardation of recovery and recrystallization by precipitates was reduced due to coarsening of the precipitates.

The optimum cold work level resistant to recovery and recrystallization was identified as 20%.