Formation of ultrafine twinned austenite on a cold rolled 316L stainless steel induced by pulsed electron beam treatment under heating mode

• Published in: Thin solid films 2012-12, Vol.526, p.28-33
• Main Authors: Zhang, K.M., Zou, J.X.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Austenite; Austenitic stainless steels; Cold rolling; Cold treatment; Cold working; Composition and phase identification; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electron backscattering diffraction; Electron beams; Exact sciences and technology; Heat resistant steels; Heating; Physics; Pulsed electron beam; Recrystallization; Stainless steel; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surface austenization; Surface treatment; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2012.10.024

The formation of highly-twinned ultrafine austenite on a cold rolled AISI 316L steel induced by low energy high current pulsed electron beam (LEHCPEB) treatment has been investigated. It is shown that rapid phase transformation, recrystallization and recovery can be achieved simultaneously through pulsed electron beam treatments under heating mode without melting the surface. The extremely fast thermo-mechanical cycles induced by the LEHCPEB account for the surface austenization and the formation of ultrafine twins. The results demonstrated that pre-deformation combined with LEHCPEB treatment under heating mode can be used to create ultrafine microstructures with special boundary characteristics in the surface layer. ► A duplex treatment involving cold rolling and electron beam annealing is developed. ► The duplex treatment can create ultrafine structures with special boundaries. ► Ultrafine twinned austenite formed on a 316L steel after the duplex treatment. ► Phase transformation, recrystallization and recovery occurred during the treatment.