Modelling the effect of strain rate on the thermomechanical behaviour of AISI 304 stainless steel

The present work deals with the interdependences between the strain rate and the strain hardening on stainless austenitic steels. Uniaxial tension tests were conducted on a 304 stainless steel at different strain rates in order to analyse the influence of this parameter on the strain hardening and on the material formability. For the strain rates levels analysed (10^‐4 to 10^‐1 s^‐1) it was also observed that increasing the strain rate from 10^‐4 up to 10^‐1 s^‐1 leads to a 25 % difference in uniform tension elongation revealing the curve‐crossing phenomenon. Namely, strain rates equal or higher than 10^‐2 lead to a stagnation of strain hardening after a tensile strain of about 0.2. In order to investigate the results obtained, microstructural and thermal analyses were conducted and numerical simulations were performed. It was observed that the decreasing of formability of the material is essentially due to thermal aspects. In the discussion, the experimental and numerical results are analysed in terms of thermal softening, phase transformation and strain rate sensibility.     

Untersuchung einer mehrlagigen Schweißnaht eines dickwandigen Rohres aus dem austenitischen Stahl X6 CrNiNb 18 10

Analysis of a multi pass weld of a thick walled tube made of austenitic stainless steel X6 CrNiNb 18 10 In this paper, microstructure and residual stresses of a multi pass welding of a thick‐walled tube made of austenitic stainless steel X6 CrNiNb 18 10 (1.4550) are systematically characterized and assessed. Results of microstructural and phase analyses, residual stress and hardness measurements as well as of a tensile test using micro specimen and SEM analyses are presented. Using these data, plastic deformations occurring during the welding process in the vicinity of the weld seam are evaluated. Finally, consequences of an additional heat treatment at 400 °C/24 h are studied.     

Influence of the microstructure on the corrosion resistance of plasma‐nitrided austenitic stainless steel 304L and 316L

Austenitic stainless steels are widely used in medical and food industries because of their excellent corrosion resistance. However, they suffer from weak wear resistance due to their low hardness. To improve this, plasma nitriding processes have been successfully applied to austenitic stainless steels, thereby forming a thin and very hard diffusion layer, the so‐called S‐phase. In the present study, the austenitic stainless steels AISI 304L and AISI 316L with different microstructures and surface modifications were used to examine the influence of the steel microstructure on the plasma nitriding behavior and corrosion properties. In a first step, solution annealed steel plates were cold‐rolled with 38% deformation degree. Then, the samples were prepared with three kinds of mechanical surface treatments. The specimens were plasma nitrided for 360 min in a H₂–N₂ atmosphere at 420 °C. X‐ray diffraction measurements confirmed the presence of the S‐phase at the sample surface, austenite and body centered cubic (bcc)‐iron. The specimens were comprehensively characterized by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, surface roughness and nano‐indentation measurements to provide the formulation of dependencies between microstructure and nitriding behavior. The corrosion behavior was examined by potentio‐dynamic polarization measurements in 0.05 M and 0.5 M sulfuric acid and by salt spray testing.     

Neuartige Sandwichverbunde – Herstellung,Umformverhalten, Fügen und Korrosionsverhalten

New Sandwichmaterials – Production, Forming, Joining and Corrosion Behaviour New sandwich structures with sheet metal of CrNi‐steel and core layer made of polypropylene were examined with regard to the processing and corrosion characteristics. Practicable solutions for bonding sandwich structures are represented with selected examples of bonding variants. Joining of the sandwich structures was carried out by laser welding and in form of hybrid junctions by adhesion and welding. It has to be taken into account that construction units are transformed before joining. The joint if possible does not lie in the transforming range if it is joined first. In the 3 roll bending test tubing elements up to a process‐bound diameter of 70 mm were manufactured. As expected the corrosion resistance is affected negatively by the oxide scale due to welding at the fusion lines. The characteristics of the basic material were regained after removing the oxide scale. A sensitization to intergranular corrosion was not detected. With correct subsequent treatment the finished sandwich structures are sufficient for the appropriate requirements.     

Nichtmagnetisierbarer warmbeständiger nichtrostender Stahl für Wälzlager

Nonmagnetic heating‐resistant stainless steel for roller bearings A low cost austenitic chromium manganese steel with about 1 mass% of carbon and nitrogen was molten under normal pressure which reveals an amazing combination of properties. Starting from a yield strength of about 600 MPa it is cold work hardened to 60 HRC. This high hardness is brought about for the first time without a martensitic microstructure which is usual for roller bearings. In addition this steel is stainless, non‐magnetic and heating resistant up to about 500 °C, i.e. a material to serve under complex loading. Manufacturing by ingot metallurgy, ESR, hot working, solution annealing and machining was carried out on an industrial scale. The investigation of the structure was carried out on several scales, beginning with the electronic structure, the TEM structure, the light optical microscopy up to macro‐etchings. In this manner an extensive understanding of the outstanding combination of properties of the steel named CARNIT was derived.     

Praktische Hinweise zur Wahl des Werkstoffs von Maschinen und Apparaten

Materials for production plants must be corrosion resistant and mechanically stable. Additionally, the plant hygiene and product hygiene may represent key aspects, depending on the product. Typical materials for the equipment in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries are high‐quality stainless steels as well as special metals, super alloys, non‐metals and plastics. To avoid contaminations, the stainless steel equipment is polished on the product contact surfaces. Chemical resistant special materials are used as massive material or often applied on a steel base.     

Effects of Al-Ni powder addition on dissimilar friction stir welding between AA7075-T6 and 304 L

Friction stir welding between AA7075-T6 aluminum alloy and 304 L stainless steel sheet metal was performed with the addition of Al−Ni powder between the joining interfaces to increase the joining performance. The welding tool was rotated at 200 min⁻¹ to 800 min⁻¹ with the constant traverse speed of 25 mm/min. The resulting joint interfaces were analyzed using a field emission-scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis. The tensile strength was greater for the Al−Ni powder added specimens at the lower tool rotational speeds. The tensile strength of 360 MPa was obtained for the ‘with-powder’ specimen as compared to 220 MPa for the ‘without-powder’ specimen at the 200 min⁻¹ tool speed. Electron microscope images of the stir zone showed a significant mixing of the Al−Ni powder with the base materials, increased contact at the interface, which resulted in increased joining strength at the lower tool rotational speeds. However, based on the images, intermetallic compound that may contribute to the joining strength in the vicinity of the interfacial region was not detected.     

Effect of heat input and weld chemistry on mechanical and microstructural aspects of double side welded austenitic stainless steel 321 grade using tungsten inert gas arc welding process

Stainless steel 321 is a stabilized austenitic grade that prevents the formation of chromium carbides at the grain boundaries and subsequently reduces the risk of corrosion attack at the weld surface by forming titanium carbide. It is primarily used in industries such as pressure vessels, boilers, nuclear reactors, carburetors and car exhaust systems. In order to assess the effect of gas tungsten arc welding process parameters on weld penetration, the proposed Taguchi L₉ orthogonal matrix has been selected with two factors and three levels for welding austenitic stainless steel 321 by adjusting the welding current and welding speed. Bead-on-plate experiments were performed on base metal of 6 mm thick plate by changing the process parameters, and corresponding weld bead measurement and macrostructure images are examined. Maximum depth of penetration −3.3017 mm is achieved with a heat input −1.4058 kJ/mm, i. e., welding current-220 A and welding speed-120 mm/min. Double-side arc welding technique is used to obtain full penetration on 6 mm thick plate. The quality of the weldment was assessed using non-destructive radiography inspection. Mechanical integrity and microstructural characteristics of the weldments were studied using tensile (transverse and longitudinal), bend, impact, microhardness, optical microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, ferrite number measurement and scanning electron microscope. The results reveal that the double side-tungsten inert gas weldment have better mechanical properties. It is corroborated from the weld metal microstructure that it contains γ-austenite, δ-ferrite and titanium carbides (intermetallic compounds). X-ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy plots confirm the increase in the ferrite phase in weld metal. The ferrite measurement results show that the ferrite volume in the base metal and weld metal is 1.2 percent and 6.1 percent respectively. In addition, the higher δ-ferrite volume in the weldment helps in attaining superior mechanical integrity. Fractography shows that the failure mode of the weld metal and the base metal is ductile.     

Hot deformation behavior and processing map of a Fe‐25Ni‐16Cr‐3Al alumina‐forming austenitic steel

The hot deformation behavior of a Fe‐25Ni‐16Cr‐3Al alumina‐forming austenitic steel was studied by hot compression using a Gleeble‐3500 thermal simulator. The compression tests were carried out in the temperatures range from 925 °C to 1175 °C and strain rates range from 0.01 s^‐1 to 10 s^‐1. It was concluded that the flow stress increased with decreasing deformation temperature and increasing strain rate. The constitutive equation was obtained and the activation energy was 420.98 kJ?mol^‐1 according to the testing data. According to the achieved processing map, the optimal processing domain is determined in the temperatures range of 1050 °C – 1075 °C and strain rates range of 0.03 s^‐1 ‐ 0.3 s^‐1. The evolution of microstructure characterization is consistent with the rules predicted by the processing map. During compression at the same temperature, the higher the strain rate is, the higher the hardness will be. The ultimate tensile strength of the steel is 779 MPa with a total elongation of 27.1 % at room temperature.     

Changes in mechanical properties of dental alloys induced by saliva and oral probiotic supplements

The effects of the saliva and oral probiotic supplements on roughness, friction and microhardness of the stainless steel (SS) and nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys used in dentistry was studied. The specimens of stainless steel, uncoated, rhodium-coated and nitrided NiTi were exposed to artificial saliva with pH 4.8 and artificial saliva with addition of probiotic supplements containing bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis through 28 days. First 5 days specimens were subjected to thermocycling to simulate intraoral conditions, 2500 cycles from 5 °C to 50 °C and the following days to the temperature of the 37±2 °C. Analyses demonstrated that oral probiotic supplements do not influence microhardness, roughness or friction of stainless steel above the influence of saliva. Probiotics increase roughness in NiTi, but without significant influence on friction, while microhardness in NiTi is not influenced. Surface nitriding reduces the influence of probiotics on roughness while rhodium coating increases it.