Aging precipitation and recrystallization behavior after cold compression by 10% in high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

The interaction between precipitation and recrystallization in 10% cold deformed Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.48N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel was investigated by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show the most sensitive temperature of precipitation is 750°C in the experimental steel after cold compressed by 10% in thickness. Aging at 750°C, only the precipitation occurs and the precipitates consist of σ phase and M 2N phase. Aging at 800°C, precipitation occurs prior to recrystallization. Precipitation of large numbers of the second phase particles at the grain boundary hinders the formation of recrystallization nucleus.