Tailoring plasticity of austenitic stainless steels for nuclear applications: Review of mechanisms controlling plasticity of austenitic steels below 400 °C

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2016-07, Vol.475 (C), p.168-191
• Main Authors: Meric de Bellefon, G., van Duysen, J.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.04.015

AISI 304 and 316 austenitic stainless steels were invented in the early 1900s and are still trusted by materials and mechanical engineers in numerous sectors because of their good combination of strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, and thanks to decades of experience and data. This article is part of an effort focusing on tailoring the plasticity of both types of steels to nuclear applications. It provides a synthetic and comprehensive review of the plasticity mechanisms in austenitic steels during tensile tests below 400 °C. In particular, formation of twins, extended stacking faults, and martensite, as well as irradiation effects and grain rotation are discussed in details. •This article is part of an effort to tailor the plasticity of 304L and 316L steels for nuclear applications.•It reviews mechanisms controlling plasticity of austenitic steels during tensile tests.•Formation of twins, extended stacking faults, and martensite, grain rotation, and irradiation effects are discussed.