Effects of cold-rolling reduction on the recrystallization texture and grain boundary of ferritic stainless steel

The study investigates the effects of cold-rolling reduction on the recrystallization-annealed Nb ＋ Ti stabilized ultra-pure ferritic stainless steel with 21% Cr in regards to its microstructure evolution, grain size,recrystallization texture, and grain boundary characteristic distribution and disorientation angle. The research employed the electron back scattered diffraction technique and its results have shown that the average grain size was reduced and the {111 / 〈 112 〉 component was strengthened,which rotated towards {5541 〈225 〉 and {4451 〈384 〉 ,with an increasing cold-rolling reduction. The number fraction of the low-angle grain boundary and the coincidence site lattice （CSL） boundary ,which was mainly made up of ∑3,∑7∑11 and ∑13b, also increased.

Role of grain boundary character on Bi segregation-induced embrittlement in ultrahigh-purity copper

Bismuth(Bi),as an impurity element in copper and copper-based alloys,usually has a strong tendency of grain boundary(GB)segregation,which depends on the GB characters.However,the influence of such a segregation on the properties of ultrahigh-purity copper has been rarely reported and the exact structural arrangements of Bi atoms at different GBs remain largely unclear.In this study,we investigated the influ-ence of trace amounts of Bi(50-300 wt ppm)on the ductility of an ultrahigh-purity copper(99.99999%)in the range of room temperature to 900°C.The tensile results show that the addition of Bi seriously damages the ductility of the ultrahigh-purity copper at temperatures of 450-900°C,which is due to the GB segregation of Bi.On this basis,such a segregation behavior at different types of GBs,including high and low angle GBs(HAGBs/LAGBs),and twin boundaries(TBs),via the scanning electron microscope-electron backscattered diffraction(SEM-EBSD)and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope(AC-STEM)investigations,combined with the first-principles calculations were systematically studied.The atomistic characterizations demonstrate an anisotropic Bi segregation,where severe enrich-ment of Bi atoms typically occurs at the HAGBs,while the absence of Bi adsorption prevails at LAGBs or TBs.In particular,the segregated Bi at random HAGBs exhibited the directional bilayer adsorption,while the special symmetrical7 HAGB presented a unique Bi-rich cluster superstructure.Our findings pro-vide a comprehensive experimental and computational understanding on the atomic-scale segregation of impurities in metallic materials.

Optimization of Grain Boundary Character Distribution in Fe-18Cr-18Mn-0.63N High-Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

Grain boundary engineering（GBE） is a practice of improving resistance to grain boundary failure of the material through increasing the proportion of low Σ coincidence site lattice（CSL） grain boundaries（special grain boundaries） in the grain boundary character distribution（GBCD）. The GBCD in a cold rolled and annealed Fe-18Cr-18Mn-0.63N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel was analyzed by electron back scatter difraction（EBSD）. The results show that the optimization process of GBE in the conventional austenitic stainless steel cannot be well applied to this high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel. The percentage of low ΣCSL grain boundaries could increase from 47.3% for the solid solution treated high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel specimen to 82.0% for the specimen after 5% cold rolling reduction and then annealing at 1423 K for 10 min.These special boundaries of high proportion efectively interrupt the connectivity of conventional high angle grain boundary network and thus achieve the GBCD optimization for the high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel.

Microtexture Evolution and Grain Boundary Character Distribution of Interstitial-Free Steels With Moderate Levels of Cold Rolling Reductions

High-strength interstitial-free steel sheets have very good deep drawability when processed to have { 111 } recrystallization texture. The microtexture evolution and grain boundary character distribution of interstitial-free steels as a function of moderate levels of cold rolling reductions were investigated by the metallographic microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction technique. The results showed that there was a close relationship between micro- texture and grain boundary character distribution for interstitial-free steel, especially the distribution and features of some specific types of coincident-site lattice boundaries. In addition, a-fiber texture was weakened to vanish while 7- fiber texture strengthened gradually as cold rolling reduction was increased from 20% to 75 % for cold rolled and an- nealed samples. Accordingly, increasing the rolling reduction from 20 % to 750% would lead to a significant increase in the proportion of ∑3 boundaries. Also, it was found that the microtexture of 20% cold rolled sample would induce a high frequency of ∑11 grain boundaries, but the microtexture of 75% cold rolled sample would produce more ∑7 and ∑17 grain boundaries. It was suggested that texture played a significant role in the formation of grain boundary character distribution.

Improving Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance in a Fe–18Cr–17Mn–2Mo–0.85N Austenitic Stainless Steel Through Grain Boundary Character Distribution Optimization

The grain boundary character distribution(GBCD) optimization and its effect on the intergranular stress corrosion cracking(IGSCC) resistance in a cold-rolled and subsequently annealed Fe-18 Cr-17 Mn-2 Mo-0.85 N high-nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel were systematically explored.The results show that stacking faults and planar slip bands appearing at the right amount of deformation(lower than 10%) are beneficial cold-rolled microstructures to the GBCD optimization.The proportion of special boundaries gradually increases in the subsequent stages of recrystallization and grain growth,accompanying with the growth of twin-related domain in the experimental steel.In this way,the fraction of low ∑ coincidence site lattice(CSL) boundaries can reach as high as 82.85% for the specimen cold-rolled by 5% and then annealed at 1423 K for 72 h.After GBCD optimization,low ∑ CSL boundaries and the special triple junctions(J2,J3) of high proportion can greatly hinder the nitride precipitation along grain boundaries and enhance the capability for intergranular crack arrest,thus improving the IGSCC resistance of the experimental steel.

Effect of Hot Band Annealing Processes on Microstructure,Texture and r-Value of Ferritic Stainless Steel

The effect of hot band annealing processes,namely simulating batch annealing and continuous annealing,on microstructure,texture,grain boundary character and r-value of ferritic stainless steel was investigated.The hot band displayed a highly elongated ribbon-like structure and a pronounced deformation texture.The fully recrystallized grains were observed after continuous annealing while the ＂typical＂ hot rolled structure was remained after batch annealing.Also,the α-fibre texture formed during hot rolling almost disappeared after continuous annealing and a weak γ-fibre texture was obtained.By contract,the α-fibre texture remained very stable after batch annealing.After cold rolling and recrystallization annealing,the favorable γ-fibre texture was achieved in the continuous annealed steel.Instead of forming the γ-fibre texture,the recrystallization texture was notably shifted toward {223}〈582〉 in the batch annealed steel.Finally,the improvement in drawability with high r-value and low Δr-value were also displayed in sheet through the initial continuous annealing process.

Simultaneously Improving Mechanical Properties and Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel via Finish Rolling within Non-recrystallization Temperature

The effect of hot rolling process on microstructure evolution,mechanical properties and stress corrosion cracking(SCC)resistance of high-strength low-alloy(HSLA)steels was investigated by varying the finish rolling temperature(FRT)and total rolling reduction.The results revealed granular bainite with large equiaxed grains was obtained by a total rolling reduction of60%with the FRT of 950℃(within recrystallization temperature T_(r)).The larger grain size and much less grain boundaries should account for the relatively lower strength and SCC resistance.A larger rolling reduction of 80% under the same FRT resulted in the formation of massive martensite-austenite(M/A)constituents and resultant low ductility and SCC resistance.In contrast,a good combination of strength,ductility and SCC resistance was obtained via 80% rolling reduction with the FRT of 860℃(within non-recrystallization temperature T_(nr)),probably because of the fine grain size and M/A constituents,as well as a high density of grain boundary network.

Through-Thickness Texture Gradient in Hot-Rolled 25Mn-2.5Si-2Al TWIP Steel

Texture is one of the important factors affecting sheet metal forming performance.The through-thickness texture gradient during the hot-rolling process of twinning induced plasticity（TWIP）steel sheet was investigated using electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction.With increasing reduction of the TWIP steel,the fraction of∑1 decreased,whereas the fractions of∑3,∑9,and∑27increased.During 53%reduction,a similar trend could be found from its surface to the center.The gradients of intensities of the fibers decreased with increasing hot-rolling reduction.The intensities of face-centered cubic（fcc）shear textures E and Y were higher in the center than that at the surface for both reductions.During 20% reduction,the intensity of fcc plain strain texture S orientation increased from the center to the surface.