Hot Deformation Behavior of a New Nuclear Use Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steel

The hot deformation behavior and workability of a new reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel named SIMP steel for accelerator-driven system were studied. The flow curve and its microstructure were studied at 900-1200 °C and strain rate range of 0.001-10 s^-1. The results showed that the deformation behavior of the SIMP steel during hot compression could be manifested by the Zener-Hollomon parameter in an exponent-type equation. Based on the obtained constitutive equation, the calculated flow stresses were in agreement with the experimentally measured ones, and the average activity energies Q_DRV and Q_HW for the initiation of dynamic recrystallization and the peak strain were calculated to be 476.1 kJ/mol and 462.7 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, based on the processing maps and microstructure evolution, the optimum processing condition for the SIMP steel was determined to be 1050-1200 °C/0.001-0.1 s^-1.