Influence of nonsteady state behavior on superplastic deformation of a 25. 7 Cr-6. 6 Ni stainless steel

TLDR: In this article, the superplastic behavior of a microduplex stainless steel (IN744) was studied by deforming specimens with initially elongated grains, and microstructural instabilities resulted in strain hardening or strain softening, respectively.

Abstract: Superplastic behavior of a microduplex stainless steel (IN744) was studied by deforming specimens with initially elongated grains. As a result of deformation, grain growth and breaking up of elongated grains were noticed to occur concurrently. These microstructural instabilities result in strain hardening or strain softening, respectively. This then leads to nonuniqueness in the flow behavior. Some examples of nonuniqueness in stress-strain rate relation include the presence of: strength anisotropy, increase in strain rate sensitivity, constant stress level for varying grain size, and two distinct stress-strain rate curves over comparable test condition for the same initial microstructure. These have been explained by the concomitant microstructural changes and the influence of such changes on instantaneous flow stress. Emphasis is made on the need to eliminate microstructural instability in order to characterize the deformation phenomena under steady state.