High temperature properties of an austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

Tensile properties of the 18Cr-9Ni-W-Nb-V-N austenitic stainless steel were studied at strain rates ranging from 6.7×10-6 to 1.3×10-2 s-1 in the temperature interval 20-740°C. It was found that this steel exhibits jerky flow at temperatures ranging from 530 to 680°C and an initial strain rate of 1.3×10 -3 s-1. This phenomenon was interpreted in terms of Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect occurring due to dynamic strain aging (DSA). PLC yields significant increase in high temperature strength of this steel due to extending of plateau on temperature dependence of yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) to higher temperatures. As a result, YS and UTS remain virtually unchanged with increasing temperature from 350 to 740°C. Role of additives of tungsten and vanadium in DSA and high temperatures strength of the austenitic stainless steel is discussed. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.