Reversion Mechanism from Deformation Induced Martensite to Austenite in Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels

Reversion mechanism from deformation induced martensite (α) to austenite (α) has been investigated in two metastable austenitic stainless steels, 15.6%Cr-9.8%Ni (the 16Cr-10Ni) and 17.6%Cr-8.8%Ni (the 18Cr-9Ni) steels, by means of magnetic analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Metastable α almost completely transforms to lath α’ by 90% cold rolling, and the α’ again reverts to γ during annealing at temperatures above 700 K. Deformation induced α’ in the 16Cr-10 Ni steel undergoes a martensitic shear reversion during heating to 923 K annealing, while that in the 18Cr-9Ni steel does a diffusional nucleation-growth reversion on 923 K annealing. Grain refining processes are greatly influenced depending on the reversion mechanism. Martensitically reversed y has a high density of dislocations immediately after the reversion and the y grains are refined through recovery and recrystallization process just like that taking place in a deformed y. On the other hand, diffusionally reversed y is characterized by the nucleation of equiaxed γ grains within the α’ matrix and the y grains gradually grow during annealing. The reversion mechanism significantly depends on the chemical compositions of steels and annealing temperature. An increase in the Ni/Cr ratio causes an increase in the Gibbs free energy change between fcc and bcc structure, leading to a fall-down of austenitizing temperature for the martensitic shear reversion. The critical driving force required for the complete martensitic shear reversion is about - 500J/mol. To obtain the critical driving force in the 18Cr-9Ni steel, it should be heated to a high temperature above 1 023 K. However, the diffusional reversion can easily occur because the martensitic shear reversion temperature is too high in the 18Cr-9Ni steel. The 16Cr-10Ni steel also undergoes the diffusional reversion when it was annealed at low temperatures below the martensitic shear reversion, 923 K.