Interface characteristic and properties of stainless steel/HSLA steel clad plate by vacuum rolling cladding

Abstract

304 austenite stainless steel plate and HSLA steel plate were subjected to vacuum rolling cladding (VRC). The microstructure characteristic and properties of the clad interface were investigated in detail. During the VRC process, the clad interface was held at a high vacuum all the time, resulting in significantly decreased oxidation at the interface. A small amount of very fine oxide particles (diameter < 0.5 μm) can be found at the clad interface, and no obvious defects were observed. The remarkable diffusion of Ni and Cr elements led to the formation of a transition zone with high hardness. The shear strength of the clad interface was as high as 487 MPa, and the fracture occurred at the HSLA steel near the transition zone. No cracks were found at the clad interface after the 180° bending tests with both outside and inside manners. © 2011 The Japan Institute of Metals.