Characterization of a Cold-Rolled 2101 Lean Duplex Stainless Steel

• Published in: Microscopy and microanalysis 2013-08, Vol.19 (4), p.988-995
• Main Authors: Bassani, Paola, Breda, Marco, Brunelli, Katya, Mészáros, Istvan, Passaretti, Francesca, Zanellato, Michela, Calliari, Irene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cold; Deformation; Magnetic properties; Materials Applications; Stainless steel; Temperature; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 1431-9276; 1435-8115
• DOI: 10.1017/S1431927613001426

Duplex stainless steels (DSS) may be defined as a category of steels with a two-phase ferritic–austenitic microstructure, which combines good mechanical and corrosion properties. However, these steels can undergo significant microstructural modification as a consequence of either thermo-mechanical treatments (ferrite decomposition, which causes σ- and χ-phase formation and nitride precipitation) or plastic deformation at room temperature [austenite transformation into strain-induced martensite (SIM)]. These secondary phases noticeably affect the properties of DSS, and therefore are of huge industrial interest. In the present work, SIM formation was investigated in a 2101 lean DSS. The material was subjected to cold rolling at various degrees of deformation (from 10 to 80% thickness reduction) and the microstructure developed after plastic deformation was investigated by electron backscattered diffraction, X-ray diffraction measurements, and hardness and magnetic tests. It was observed that SIM formed as a consequence of deformations higher than ~20% and residual austenite was still observed at 80% of thickness reduction. Furthermore, a direct relationship was found between microstructure and magnetic properties.