The effect of severe plastic deformation and annealing conditions on mechanical properties and restoration phenomena in an ultrafine-grains Fe-28.5%Ni steel

The effect of annealing condition on the microstructure evolution, together with mechanical properties of Fe-28.5Ni steel processed by one and six cycles of accumulative roll bonding (ARB), was explored. The evolution of microstructure was studied by means of Electron Backscattered Diffraction method. The ARB-processed specimens were annealed for 30 minutes between 500°C and 600°C, and the effect of these annealing processes was elaborated. Results showed a significantly reduced martensite phase during ARB process cycles. Moreover, a refined and stabilised ultrafine structure was obtained in 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen. Results also show that by annealing the 1-cycle specimen at 550°C, no significant microstructural change and mechanical properties variation are identified. As such, no significant microstructural change and mechanical properties variation were notified for annealing of 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen at 500°C. However, annealing at 600°C in both conditions led to a complete recrystallisation of the deformed structure. Annealing at 550°C in 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen showed partial recrystallisation as well as an abnormal grain growth characteristic. The abnormal grain growth was seen by annealing of 1-cycle ARB-processed specimen at 600°C. The changing features of dislocations were discussed in these specimens in terms of changing the dynamics of low- and high-angle grain boundaries. Tensile test results also showed a significant increase in the yield/ultimate tensile strengths with the application of ARB cycles. Although ARB process led to a rapid reduction of total elongation, full restoration during high-temperature annealing returned this value back to the initial, non-deformed, condition.