铸造奥氏体不锈钢中铁素体与奥氏体位向关系及其对声衰减的影响

研究了铸造奥氏体不锈钢中铁素体与奥氏体位向关系及其对超声散射衰减的影响.利用电子背散射衍射技术表征了两相的晶体取向及其位向关系,基于真实的铁素体形貌建立了二维声传播各向异性模型并利用时域有限差分法进行了计算,分析了不同位向关系、铁素体形貌特征对声衰减系数的影响规律并进行了实验验证.结果表明：铸造奥氏体不锈钢奥氏体晶粒中散布着形状复杂的铁素体,典型铁素体形貌为条状和岛状;铁素体与奥氏体的位向关系以Kurdjumov-Sachs关系为主,少量满足Nishiyama-Wassermann关系.对声传播过程进行计算,发现两相位向关系和铁素体形貌协同作用影响超声波传播,在较高检测频率（15 MHz）下对散射衰减的影响不能忽略.结合“原位”实验对奥氏体<101>柱状晶粒的声衰减影响因素进行了定量分析,发现对于单一铸造奥氏体晶粒,晶粒内部取向不均匀性、奥氏体-铁素体位向关系以及奥氏体晶粒内铁素体形态都是超声散射衰减的主要原因.     

Dependence of grain boundary character distribution on the initial grain size of 304 austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

In order to study the dependence of the grain boundary character distributions (GBCD) on the grain size, annealing treatment was carried out on 304 austenitic stainless steel with different initial grain sizes. The evolution of the GBCD was analysed by electron backscatter diffraction. The experimental results showed that abnormal grain growth (AGG) occurred when grain size was small. With a smaller initial grain size, the number density of abnormally large grains and the fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries increased but the size of abnormally large grains decreased and the random boundaries presented a continuous network. With a larger initial grain size, the fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries also increased as well as the size of abnormally large grains but the number density of abnormally large grains decreased and the connectivity of random boundary network was disrupted by low-Σ CSL boundaries, especially Σ3ⁿ (n = 1, 2, 3) boundaries. However, with a very large initial grain size, normal grain growth (NGG) occurred, which had no effect on the fraction of low-Σ CSL boundaries and the connectivity of random boundary network.     

基于时间反转MUSIC的奥氏体不锈钢超声成像分析

奥氏体不锈钢管道广泛应用于核电及某些化工领域等,但奥氏体不锈钢焊缝缺陷的检测仍然比较困难。在时间反转的基础上,采用DORT算法和MUSIC算法对较低信噪比(-5 dB和-10 dB)的缺陷定位进行仿真分析,在定制的奥氏体不锈钢对接焊缝试块上(300 mm×90 mm×30 mm),采用16阵元超声相控阵探头对缺陷进行检测,引入TR-MUSIC算法对缺陷回波信号进行频域分析。结果表明,低信噪比时,TR-MUSIC算法较TR-DORT算法能更好的抑制旁瓣,使信号能量能更好的聚焦于缺陷;在奥氏体不锈钢焊缝相距25 mm的Φ2mm缺陷(深度为50 mm)检测实验数据基础上,TR-MUSIC算法能够更准确定位缺陷。     

Geometric dynamic recrystallization of austenitic stainless steel through linear plane-strain machining

ABSTRACT

Type 316L austenitic stainless steel was severely plastically deformed at room temperature using linear plane-strain machining in a single pass that imparted shear strains up to 2.2 at strain rates up to 2?×?10³ s^?1. The resulting microstructures exhibited significant grain size refinement and improved mechanical strength where geometric dynamic recrystallization was identified as the primary microstructural recrystallization mechanism active at high strain rates. This mechanism is rarely observed in low to medium stacking fault energy materials. The critical stress required for twin initiation is raised by the combined effects of refined grain size and the increase in stacking fault energy due to the adiabatic heating of the chip, thus permitting geometric dynamic recrystallization. The suppression of martensite formation was observed and is correlated to the significant adiabatic heating and mechanical stabilisation of the austenitic stainless steel. A gradient of the amount of strain induced martensite formed from the surface towards the interior of the chip. As the strain rate is increased from 4?×?10² s^?1–2?×?10³ s^?1, a grain morphology change was observed from a population of grains with a high fraction of irregular shaped grains to one dominated by elongated grain shapes with a microstructure characterised by an enhanced density of intragranular sub-cell structure, serrated grain boundaries, and no observable twins. As strain rates were increased, the combination of reduction in strain induced martensite and non-uniform intragranular strain led to grain softening where a Hall-Petch relationship was observed with a negative strengthening coefficient of ?0.08?MPa m^1/2.     

Effects of cold rolling deformation on microstructure,hardness, and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Effects of cold rolling deformation on the microstructure, hardness, and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel （HNASS） are investigated. Microstructure characterization shows that 70% cold rolling deformation results in significant refinement of the microstructure of this steel, with its average twin thickness reducing from 6.4 μm to 14 nm. Nanoindentation tests at different strain rates demonstrate that the hardness of the steel with nano-scale twins （nt-HNASS） is about 2 times as high as that of steel with micro-scale twins （mt-HNASS）. The hardness of nt-HNASS exhibits a pronounced strain rate dependence with a strain rate sensitivity （m value） of 0.0319, which is far higher than that of mt-HNASS （m = 0.0029）. nt-HNASS shows more significant load plateaus and a higher creep rate than mt-HNASS. Analysis reveals that higher hardness and larger m value of nt-HNASS arise from stronger strain hardening role, which is caused by the higher storage rate of dislocations and the interactions between dislocations and high density twins. The more significant load plateaus and higher creep rates of nt-HNASS are due to the rapid relaxation of the dislocation structures generated during loading.     

奥氏体不锈钢窄间隙焊缝侧壁未熔合相控阵超声检测*

针对核电站主管道奥氏体不锈钢窄间隙焊缝侧壁未熔合超声检测困难的问题,该文开展基于电子背散射衍射技术的相控阵超声检测研究,并结合全聚焦方法和相位相干成像方法抑制结构噪声。利用电子背散射衍射技术建立壁厚69.5 mm,且同时包含母材和焊缝的奥氏体不锈钢窄间隙焊缝模型。沿焊缝熔合线设置深度26.5 mm、高度3.0 mm的侧壁未熔合,经过仿真优化确定了中心频率2.25 MHz、32阵元以及45°纵波楔块的相控阵超声检测参数。仿真和实验检测结果显示,侧壁未熔合检测信噪比相差不超过0.6 dB,验证了所建模型的有效性。在此基础上,利用全聚焦方法和相位相干成像方法削弱结构噪声,检测信噪比较相控阵扇扫描图像分别提升2.3 dB和4.7 dB,且侧壁未熔合深度与高度定量误差均不超过6.7%。     

The austenite microstructure evolution in a duplex stainless steel subjected to hot deformation

Abstract

The austenite microstructure evolution and softening processes have been studied in a 23Cr–6Ni–3Mo duplex stainless steel, comprising equal fractions of austenite and ferrite, deformed in uniaxial compression at 1000 °C using strain rates of 0.1 and 10 s^?1. The texture and microstructure evolution within austenite was similar in character for both the strain rate used. The observed large-scale subdivision of austenite grains/islands into complex-shaped deformation bands, typically separated by relatively wide transition regions, has been attributed to the complex strain fields within this phase. Organised, self-screening microband arrays were locally present within austenite and displayed a crystallographic character for a wide range of austenite orientations. The microband boundaries were aligned with the traces of {1?1?1} slip planes containing slip systems having high, although not necessarily the highest possible, Schmid factors. The slightly lower mean intercept length and higher mean misorientation obtained for the sub-boundaries at the higher strain rate can be ascribed to the expected more restricted dynamic recovery processes compared to the low strain rate case. Dynamic recrystallisation within austenite was extremely limited and mainly occurred via the strain-induced migration of the distorted original twin boundaries, followed by the formation of multiple twinning chains.     

Strain rate and cold rolling dependence of tensile strength and ductility in high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel

The tensile strength and ductility of a high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel with solution and cold rolling treatment were investigated by performing tensile tests at different strain rates and at room temperature. The tensile tests demonstrated that this steel exhibits a significant strain rate and cold rolling dependence of the tensile strength and ductility.With the increase of the strain rate from 10~(-4)s~(-1)to 1 s~(-1), the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increase and the uniform elongation and total elongation decrease. The analysis of the double logarithmic stress–strain curves showed that this steel exhibits a two-stage strain hardening behavior, which can be well examined and analyzed by using the Ludwigson equation. The strain hardening exponents at low and high strain regions(n_2and n_1) and the transition strain(εL) decrease with increasing strain rate and the increase of cold rolling RA. Based on the analysis results of the stress–strain curves, the transmission electron microscopy characterization of the microstructure and the scanning electron microscopy observation of the deformation surfaces, the significant strain rate and cold rolling dependence of the strength and ductility of this steel were discussed and connected with the variation in the work hardening and dislocation activity with strain rate and cold rolling.     

Quantitative evaluation of ultrasonic C-scan image in acoustically homogeneous and layered anisotropic materials using three dimensional ray tracing method

Quantitative evaluation of ultrasonic C-scan images in homogeneous and layered anisotropic austenitic materials is of general importance for understanding the influence of anisotropy on wave fields during ultrasonic non-destructive testing and evaluation of these materials. In this contribution, a three dimensional ray tracing method is presented for evaluating ultrasonic C-scan images quantitatively in general homogeneous and layered anisotropic austenitic materials. The directivity of the ultrasonic ray source in general homogeneous columnar grained anisotropic austenitic steel material (including layback orientation) is obtained in three dimensions based on Lamb’s reciprocity theorem. As a prerequisite for ray tracing model, the problem of ultrasonic ray energy reflection and transmission coefficients at an interface between (a) isotropic base material and anisotropic austenitic weld material (including layback orientation), (b) two adjacent anisotropic weld metals and (c) anisotropic weld metal and isotropic base material is solved in three dimensions. The influence of columnar grain orientation and layback orientation on ultrasonic C-scan image is quantitatively analyzed in the context of ultrasonic testing of homogeneous and layered austenitic steel materials. The presented quantitative results provide valuable information during ultrasonic characterization of homogeneous and layered anisotropic austenitic steel materials.     

Evolution of magnetic phase at low aging temperature in a heavily cold-drawn stainless steel fiber

The evolution of the magnetic phase upon aging at 300–520 °C in a heavily cold-drawn AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel fiber was studied using thermomagnetic analysis (TMA) and magnetic force microscopy with a heating stage. An increasing trend of magnetization from 50 °C to around 470 °C in the heating curves of TMA in austenitic stainless steels after a cold-drawing process was observed. No significant M_s temperature signal in the TMA curve at cooling indicated an increase in magnetization upon cooling period without significant phase transformation. A series of in situ magnetic force microscopy observations reveal a growth of the magnetic domain structure after aging at 300 °C for 2.5 h. Results show that the ferromagnetic increase during aging at lower annealing temperature resulted from the growth of martensite.     

Assessment of surface relief and short cracks under cyclic creep in a type 316LN austenitic stainless steel

Formation of surface relief and short cracks under cyclic creep (stress-controlled fatigue) in type 316LN stainless steel was studied at temperatures ranging from ambient to 923 K using scanning electron microscopy technique. The surface topography and crack distribution behaviour under cyclic creep were found to be strong functions of testing temperature due to the difference in strain accumulation. At 823 K, surface relief mainly consisted of fine slip markings due to negligible accumulation of strain as a consequence of dynamic strain ageing (DSA) which led to an increase in the cyclic life. Persistent slip markings (PSM) with distinct extrusions containing minute cracks were seen to prevail in the temperature range 873–923 K, indicating a higher slip activity causing higher strain accumulation in the absence of DSA. Besides, a large number of secondary cracks (both transgranular and intergranular) which were partially accentuated by severe oxidation, were observed. Extensive cavitation-induced grain boundary cracking took place at 923 K, which coalesced with PSM-induced transgranular cracks resulting in failure dominated by creep that in turn led to a drastic reduction in cyclic life. Investigations on the influence of stress rate were also carried out which underlined the presence of DSA at 823 K. At 923 K, lowering the stress rate caused further strengthening of the contribution from creep damage marked by a shift in the damage mechanism from cyclic slip to diffusion.     

Deformation-induced martensite and nanotwins by cryogenic laser shock peening of AISI 304 stainless steel and the effects on mechanical properties

Laser shock peening (LSP) of stainless steel 304 was carried out at room and cryogenic temperature (liquid nitrogen temperature). It was found that the deformation-induced martensite was generated by LSP only when the laser-generated plasma pressure is sufficiently high. Compared to room temperature laser shock peening (RT-LSP), cryogenic laser shock peening (CLSP) generates a higher volume fraction of martensite at the same laser intensity. This is due to the increase in the density of potential embryos (deformation bands) for martensite nucleation by deformation at cryogenic temperature. In addition, CLSP generates a high density of deformation twins and stacking faults. After CLSP, an innovative microstructure, characterised by networks of deformation twins, stacking faults and composite structure (martensite and austenite phases), contributes to material strength and microstructure stability improvement. The combined effect of higher surface hardness and a more stabilised microstructure results in greater fatigue performance improvement of the CLSP samples compared to that of the RT-LSP samples.     

Comparison between the use of polyether ether ketone and stainless steel columns for ultrasonic-assisted extraction under various ultrasonic conditions

The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was conducted using the stainless steel (SS) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) columns and analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to understand the mechanism of ultrasound-assisted chromatography (UAC). Empty SS and PEEK columns were used to extract dyes from a fabric under identical conditions with several parameters including the initial ultrasonic bath temperatures (30 °C and 40 °C), ultrasound power intensities (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 %), ultrasound operation modes (normal and sweep), and ultrasound frequencies (25 kHz, 40 kHz, and 132 kHz) to compare their extraction capabilities. After 30 min of extraction, the amount of extract was determined by HPLC. The PEEK material was significantly affected by ultrasonic radiation compared to the SS material, especially at a higher temperature (40 °C), power intensity (100 %), and frequency (132 kHz) with sweep mode. At a maximum power density of 45 W/L, the extraction effectiveness ratio of PEEK to SS was in the range of 1.8 - 3.9 depending on the specific frequency, initial temperature, and with or without temperature control. The most optimal ultrasound frequencies, in terms of enhancing extraction effectiveness, are in the order of 132 kHz, 40 kHz, and 25 kHz. Unlike the SS material, the PEEK material was more affected by temperature and acoustic effects under identical conditions, especially at 132 kHz ultrasound frequency. In contrast, at lower frequencies of 40 kHz and 25 kHz, no significant differences in the acoustic effects were observed between the PEEK and SS materials. The findings of this study contribute to elucidating the roles of column materials in UAE and UAC.