Orientation effects on recrystallization of coarse-grained Nb-bearing 430 ferritic stainless steels

Author(s)

Rodrigo Pinto de Siqueira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Lorena.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL/ASDI)
• Defense date: 2010-05-12

Examining board members

Hugo Ricardo Zschommler Sandim; Miguel Justino Ribeiro Barboza; Nelson Batista de Lima; Carlos Angelo Nunes; Tarcisio Reis de Oliveira

• Advisor: Hugo Ricardo Zschommler Sandim

Abstract

Work hardening and recrystallization behaviors of coarse-grained Nb-containing AISI 430 ferritic stainless steels were investigated. Ferritic stainless steels can be used in automotive industry in hot parts of the gas exhaust system. In this work, three different compositions were investigated varying niobium and interstitial contents (carbon and nitrogen). Aiming to obtain a useful coarse-grained microstructure for the study of orientation effects, hot-rolled samples were annealed at 1250°C for 2 h. After annealing, grain size was determined using a standard linear intercept method. Samples were cold rolled to reductions varying from 20% up to 80%. Samples after 80% cold rolling were annealed at temperatures ranging from 400°C up to 1000°C for 15 min to investigate their recrystallization behavior. Vickers microhardness testing was performed to follow hardening and softening behaviors in the samples. Microstructural characterization of the samples was performed using both light optical and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies in the backscattered electron mode (BSE). The macrotexture was determined by X-ray diffraction. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements were carried out in representative samples to determine microtexture. Precipitates in hot-rolled samples (FSS-B) were both electrolytically and chemically extracted. The crystallography of precipitates was determined by X-ray diffraction and their morphology was observed using SEM. The microstructures in hot-rolled condition consist of elongated recovered grains and dispersed Nb(C,N) particles. Texture is characterized by typical rolling components in the center layer, whereas shear components appear in the surface layers. After annealing, FSS-A and FSS-B steels displayed similar grain size, whereas FSS-C displayed a finer one. The results of macrotexture show CH in the center layer and both Goss and Brass components at the surface layer. The microstructure of samples cold rolled up to reductions below 50% do not display banding. Above 50% reduction, deformation heterogeneities (bands) appear in the microstructure. The banded regions and those around coarse particles tend to rotate in TD. Cold-rolling texture displays both ? and ? fiber components. Recrystallization takes place in temperature between 650 and 850ºC. Texture due to PSN mechanism was not observed. The FSS-C steel displayed only components belonging to ? fiber, whereas FSS-A, FSS-B e FSS-C steels displayed besides ? fiber, components CH and those belonging to η fiber. Grain-growth annealing at high temperature contributes to increase CH and η fiber components. (AU)