Showing papers on "Austenitic stainless steel published in 2015"

Spatial variation of melt pool geometry, peak temperature and solidification parameters during laser assisted additive manufacturing process

Abstract: A three-dimensional heat transfer and material flow model is developed to numerically simulate the temperature and velocity fields in a laser assisted layer by layer deposition process with coaxially fed powder particles. The computed results are tested with independently reported temperature and build geometry for the deposition of multilayered structures of austenitic stainless steel. The results provide detailed insight about the important physical processes and show that the model can be used to understand the effects of process parameters on the thermal cycles, build geometry, cooling rates and solidification parameters in a multilayer additive manufacturing process.

Stainless steel made to rust: a robust water-splitting catalyst with benchmark characteristics

Abstract: The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is known as the efficiency-limiting step for the electrochemical cleavage of water mainly due to the large overpotentials commonly used materials on the anode side cause. Since Ni–Fe oxides reduce overpotentials occurring in the OER dramatically they are regarded as anode materials of choice for the electrocatalytically driven water-splitting reaction. We herewith show that a straightforward surface modification carried out with AISI 304, a general purpose austenitic stainless steel, very likely, based upon a dissolution mechanism, to result in the formation of an ultra-thin layer consisting of Ni, Fe oxide with a purity >99%. The Ni enriched thin layer firmly attached to the steel substrate is responsible for the unusual highly efficient anodic conversion of water into oxygen as demonstrated by the low overpotential of 212 mV at 12 mA cm−2 current density in 1 M KOH, 269.2 mV at 10 mA cm−2 current density in 0.1 M KOH respectively. The Ni, Fe-oxide layer formed on the steel creates a stable outer sphere, and the surface oxidized steel samples proved to be inert against longer operating times (>150 ks) in alkaline medium. In addition Faradaic efficiency measurements performed through chronopotentiometry revealed a charge to oxygen conversion close to 100%, thus underpinning the conclusion that no “inner oxidation” based on further oxidation of the metal matrix below the oxide layer occurs. These key figures achieved with an almost unrivalled-inexpensive and unrivalled-accessible material, are among the best ever presented activity characteristics for the anodic water-splitting reaction at pH 13.

Oxidation of CoCrFeMnNi High Entropy Alloys

Abstract: Eight model high entropy alloys (HEAs) in the CoCrFeMnNi family (including one alloy each in the CoCrFeNi and CoFeMnNi subfamilies) were made, prepared, and exposed to laboratory air for 1100 h at 650°C and 750°C. Two commercial alloys, nickel-base superalloy 230 (N06230) and austenitic stainless steel 304H (S30409), were simultaneously exposed for comparison. Mass change oxidation kinetics were measured and cross-sections of exposed samples were observed. Seven of these HEAs contained much more Mn (12–24 wt.%) than is found in commercial heat-resistant stainless steels and superalloys. The oxidation resistance of CoCrFeNi was excellent and comparable to 304H at 650°C and only slightly worse at 750°C. The thin oxide scale on CoCrFeNi was primarily Cr oxide (presumably Cr2O3) with some Mn oxide at the outer part of the scale. The CoCrFeMnNi HEAs all experienced more rapid oxidation than CoCrFeNi and, especially at 750°C, experienced oxide scale spallation. The addition of Y in the alloy to lower S improved the oxidation resistance of these HEAs. Alloy CoFeMnNi, without Cr, experienced much higher oxidation rates and scale spallation than the Cr-containing alloys. A linear regression analysis of the log of the parabolic rate constant, log(kp), as functions of wt.% Cr and Mn found a good correlation for the compositional dependence of the oxidation rate constant, especially at 650°C. Mn was found to be more detrimental increasing log(k p) than Cr was helpful reducing log(k p). If CoCrFeMnNi HEAs are to be used in high temperature oxidizing environments, then examining lower levels of Mn, while maintaining Cr levels, should be pursued.

Corrosion characteristics of high entropy alloys

Abstract: The present paper reports on the electrochemical properties of a wide range of high entropy alloys (HEAs) in a 0.6 M NaCl solution. A consolidated treatise of the topic has to date been lacking, and the purpose of the work herein is to present a primitive galvanic series for numerous HEAs, along with a broad survey of results typifying their electrochemical characteristics, passivity and comparative electrochemistry. The results are coupled with microstructural characterisation. The range of potentials for HEAs is comparable to or nobler than austenitic stainless steel, with a number of HEAs displaying higher pitting potential (Epit) values than stainless steels, in spite of possessing heterogeneous microstructures.

Austenitic stainless steel strengthened by the in situ formation of oxide nanoinclusions

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel was prepared by laser melting. High resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry confirmed the in situ formation of oxide nanoinclusions with average size less than 50 nm. Scanning electron microscopy examination revealed the homogeneous dispersion of the oxide nanoinclusions in the steel matrix. The tensile and yield strengths of the prepared specimens were 703 and 456 MPa respectively with high ductility which is significantly improved compared to its conventionally casted counterpart.

Superior radiation-resistant nanoengineered austenitic 304L stainless steel for applications in extreme radiation environments

Abstract: Nuclear energy provides more than 10% of electrical power internationally, and the increasing engagement of nuclear energy is essential to meet the rapid worldwide increase in energy demand. A paramount challenge in the development of advanced nuclear reactors is the discovery of advanced structural materials that can endure extreme environments, such as severe neutron irradiation damage at high temperatures. It has been known for decades that high dose radiation can introduce significant void swelling accompanied by precipitation in austenitic stainless steel (SS). Here we report, however, that through nanoengineering, ultra-fine grained (UFG) 304 L SS with an average grain size of ~100 nm, can withstand Fe ion irradiation at 500 °C to 80 displacements-per-atom (dpa) with moderate grain coarsening. Compared to coarse grained (CG) counterparts, swelling resistance of UFG SS is improved by nearly an order of magnitude and swelling rate is reduced by a factor of 5. M(23)C(6) precipitates, abundant in irradiated CG SS, are largely absent in UFG SS. This study provides a nanoengineering approach to design and discover radiation tolerant metallic materials for applications in extreme radiation environments.

Effects of molybdenum on the composition and nanoscale morphology of passivated austenitic stainless steel surfaces

Abstract: Surface analysis by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy has been applied to provide new insight on Mo effects on the composition and nanostructure of the passive films grown in sulfuric acid on well-controlled Fe–17Cr–14.5Ni–2.3Mo(100) austenitic stainless steel single crystal surfaces. A duplex hydroxylated oxide matrix, 1.8–1.9 nm thick, is formed with a strong partition between Cr(III) and Fe(III) in the inner and outer layers, respectively. Cr(III) is increasingly enriched by preferential iron oxide dissolution upon passivation and ageing. Ni, only present as oxide traces in the film, is enriched in the alloy underneath. Mo, mostly present as Mo(IV) in the Cr-rich inner layer prior to anodic polarisation, becomes increasingly enriched (up to 16% of cations) mostly as Mo(VI) in the Fe-rich outer layer of the passive film, with ageing promoting this effect. Metallic Mo is not significantly enriched below the passive film produced from the native oxide covered surface. Mo does not markedly impact the nanogranular morphology of the native oxide film nor its local thickness variations assigned to substrate site effects on Cr(III) enrichment. Site specific preferential passivation still takes place at the (native) oxide-covered step edges of the alloy surface, and transient dissolution remains preferentially located on the terraces. Nanostructures, possibly Mo-containing, and healing local depressions formed by transient dissolution during passivation, appear as a specific effect of the Mo presence. Another Mo effect, observed even after 20 h of passivation, is to prevent crystallisation at least in the Fe-rich outer part of the passive film where it is concentrated mostly as Mo(VI) (i.e. molybdate) species.

An Ideal Ultrafine-Grained Structure for High Strength and High Ductility

Abstract: An ideal ultrafine-grained (UFG) microstructure for high strength and high ductility should have short dislocation-slip path to impede dislocation slip and very low dislocation density to ensure more room for dislocation accumulation. Such a microstructure is hard to produce, especially for UFG metals produced by severe plastic deformation techniques. Here, we report an ideal UFG structure produced by reverse transformation of deformation-induced martensite in 304 L austenitic stainless steel. It produced small grains and a high density of nanotwins for both high strength and high ductility. This approach is applicable to face-centered cubic metals with low stacking fault energy.

Temperature effect on deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of a high manganese C+N alloyed austenitic stainless steel

Abstract: Recently developed high-manganese stainless Fe–Cr–Mn–CN steels exhibit an exceptional combination of strength and ductility and show great promise for structural applications. Understanding the relationships between temperature, stacking fault energy (SFE) and strain-hardening behavior is critical for alloying, design, and further optimization of these steels. The present study investigates the influence of temperature and SFE on the microstructural evolution to explain the deformation behavior and mechanical properties of an austenitic Fe–14Cr–16Mn–0.3C–0.3N alloy. The flow behavior is homogenous and no serrations in the flow stress occur during tensile deformation in the temperature range from −150 to 250 °C. Mechanical twinning and the formation of (planar) dislocation substructures strongly influence the mechanical properties and work-hardening behavior in the intermediate temperature range from −40 to 45 °C (SFE range from 17 to 24 mJ m−2). In the high temperature interval from 100 to 250 °C the SFE ranges from 29 to 44 mJ m−2 and the initiation of mechanical twinning is delayed leading to reduced work-hardening in the intermediate and final stages of strain-hardening. In the low temperature regime from −150 to 100 °C (SFE approximately 15 mJ m−2), eh.c.p.-martensite is the dominant secondary deformation mechanism, contributing to the enhanced work-hardening in the early and intermediate stages of deformation and slightly lower total elongations. The yield strength of the studied alloy is significantly larger and exhibits greater sensitivity to temperature within the thermal and athermal ranges for dislocation motion compared to conventional Fe–Mn–(Al)–C TWIP or austenitic stainless steels, which may be attributed to phenomena such as short range ordering.

Effect of Residual Stress on the Corrosion Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Abstract: In this paper we demonstrate that the residual stress introduced by several different surface finishes affects the critical current density for passivation and the passive current density in the anodic polarization curve of austenitic stainless steel and that those critical current densities can be reduced by controlling the residual stress by applying a cavitating jet to the backs of specimens. The results show that the current density either increased or decreased depending on the surface finish, and that was decreased by introducing compressive residual stress for all surface finishes.

Mechanism of dislocation channel-induced irradiation assisted stress corrosion crack initiation in austenitic stainless steel

Abstract: The mechanism by which dislocation channeling induces irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking was determined using Fe–13Cr15Ni austenitic stainless steel irradiated with protons to a dose of 5 dpa and strained at high temperature in both argon and simulated boiling water reactor normal water chemistry environments. Straining induced dislocation channels that were characterized by digital image correlation and confocal microscopy. Dislocation channels were found to be either continuous across the boundary, discontinuous, or discontinuous with slip in the boundary. Discontinuous channels were found to contain the least amount of strain but have the highest propensity for initiating cracks. Discontinuous dislocation channel–grain boundary intersections were shown to have the highest local stress. TEM in-situ straining of irradiated steels and atomistic simulation of dislocation–grain boundary interaction provided supporting evidence that channels that were unable to transfer strain underwent cracking. The inability of channels to relieve stress, by either slip in the adjacent grain or in the grain boundary, resulted in high local stresses and increased susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking initiation.

Effect of shot peening on metastable austenitic stainless steels

Abstract: In this work, shot peening was performed in a metastable austenitic stainless steel EN 1.4318 (AISI 301LN) in order to evaluate its effect on austenite to martensite phase transformation and also the influence on the fatigue limit. Two different steel conditions were considered: annealed, i.e., with a fully austenitic microstructure, and cold rolled, consisting of a mixture of austenite and martensite. X-ray diffraction, electron back-scattered diffraction and focus ion beam, as well as nanoindentation techniques, were used to elucidate deformation mechanisms activated during shot peening and correlate with fatigue response. Results pointed out that extensive plastic deformation and phase transformation developed in annealed specimens as a consequence of shot peening. However, the increase of roughness and the generation of microcracks led to a limited fatigue limit improvement. In contrast, shot peened cold rolled specimens exhibited enhanced fatigue limit. In the latter case, the main factor that determined the influence on the fatigue response was the distance from the injector, followed successively by the exit speed of the shots and the coverage factor.

Development of Nanocrystalline 304L Stainless Steel by Large Strain Cold Working

Abstract: The microstructural changes leading to nanocrystalline structure development and the respective tensile properties were studied in a 304L stainless steel subjected to large strain cold rolling at ambient temperature. The cold rolling was accompanied by the development of deformation twinning and martensitic transformation. The latter readily occurred at deformation microshear bands, leading the martensite fraction to approach 0.75 at a total strain of 3. The deformation twinning followed by microshear banding and martensitic transformation promoted the development of nanocrystalline structure consisting of a uniform mixture of austenite and martensite grains with their transverse sizes of 120–150 nm. The developed nanocrystallites were characterized by high dislocation density in their interiors of about 3 × 1015 m−2 and 2 × 1015 m−2 in austenite and martensite, respectively. The development of nanocrystalline structures with high internal stresses led to significant strengthening. The yield strength increased from 220 MPa in the original hot forged state to 1600 MPa after cold rolling to a strain of 3.