Characterization of Austenitic Stainless Steels Deformed at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

Abstract Highly alloyed austenitic stainless steels are promising candidates to replace more expensive nickel-based alloys within the energy-producing industry. The present study investigates the deformation mechanisms by microstructural characterization, mechanical properties and stress–strain response of three commercial austenitic stainless steels and two commercial nickel-based alloys using uniaxial tensile tests at elevated temperatures from 673 K (400 $$^{\circ }$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mo>∘</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> C) up to 973 K (700 $$^{\circ }$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mo>∘</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> C). The materials showed different ductility at elevated temperatures which increased with increasing nickel content. The dominating deformation mechanism was planar dislocation-driven deformation at elevated temperature. Deformation twinning was also a noticeable active deformation mechanism in the heat-resistant austenitic alloys during tensile deformation at elevated temperatures up to 973 K (700 $$^{\circ }$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mo>∘</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> C).