The stacking fault energy (SFE) of seven austenitic stainless steels with the compositions x(Cr)=20 at%, 8≤x(Ni)≤20 at% and 0≤x(Mn)≤8 at% have been calculated at room temperature using the thermodynamics-based Olson and Cohen modeling approach [1]. Modeling has been performed using the TCFE7 database together with the Thermo-Calc 3.0 software. Experimental SFE values from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements and theoretical SFE values from ab initio calculations were used for comparison. The results of the SFE from TCFE7 were not in agreement with the values reported in the literature. After an evaluation of the thermodynamic parameters in the database, a new assessment of the SFE in the ternary and quaternary Fe-Cr-Ni and Fe-Cr-Ni-Mn system was proposed which resulted in SFE values in fairly good agreement with the literature.

The localised corrosion behaviour of various grades of Austenitic Stainless Steels has been demonstrated by optical and electron microscopy. The effect of sensitisation upon subsequent corrosive attack has been investigated. A theoretical model based upon thermodynamic and kinetic considerations has been proposed to account for the observed experimental results. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

The mechanical properties of three austenitic stainless steel alloys, namely 21-6-9, 316L and a modifed 316, fabricated via laser powder bed fusion, have been studied. From the results previously obtained through tensile tests at room and cryogenic temperatures, their strength and ductility were compared against similar conventionally processed materials. The three alloys exhibited a higher or similar strength than their conventional counterparts at both temperatures. In the case of ductility, the additive manufactured 316L was the only alloy that outperformed a conventional 316L at room temperature. At cryogenic temperature, the ductility of the three alloys was either similar or lower. Also, their plastic behavior throughout di˙erent stages of deformation was characterized from their microstructure evolution. At room temperature, a two stage, monotonically descending strain hardening rate was observed, similar to FCC medium stacking fault energy materials. At cryogenic temperatures, four stages of strain hardening rates were observed, caused by a martensite transformation induced by plastic deformation, as it happens in TRIP steels.

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Relaxation spectra were determined for a high chromium-high nickel vacuum cast stainless steel. The specimens were tested in the following three conditions: (1) as-received and solution heat treated, (2) nitrided 20 hours and solution heat treated, and (3) nitrided 40 hours and solution heat treated. No internal friction peaks were found in any of the experimental runs. There was no precipitation of nitrides during testing in the torsional pendulum. This was verified by an electron microscopic examination of the specimens after testing. Since there were no nitrides precipitated, no internal friction relaxation peaks were evident. / M.S.

The influence of impurities in magnesium chloride upon the rate of attack of stress corrosion cracking in AISI 304 stainless steel has been investigated. Previous investigations in this laboratory indicated that different batches of technical grade magnesium chloride produced poor reproducibility of results. These inconsistencies were attributed to the presence of varying amounts of impurities which are commonly found in technical grade magnesium chloride. In this investigation, certified grade magnesium chloride was used with impurities intentionally added in order to determine how each affected the constants M and C in the following equation, which relates the maximum crack depth D, to the time of exposure to the corrosive medium, t: log t • D/M + log C The constant C represents the time of exposure to the corrosive media to nucleate cracking, and M is a function of the rate at which cracks propagate. It was determined that the impurity ions most commonly found in magnesium chloride were nitrate, sulfate, and calcium. A significant difference in the constants V and M was found to exist with the presence of each impurity. It was not determined, however, if a change in pH resulted from the addition of the impurity compounds. Hence, a further study is required in order to determine the pH of the corrosive media and the effects of its changes. / Master of Science

Fatigue-crack propagation and residual static-strength data on PH15-7Mo (TH 1050) stainless steel are presented in this thesis. In addition, the capability of McEvily and Illg's crack-growth analysis and Kuhn and Figge's residual strength analysis to correlate the test data has been investigated. Axial-load fatigue-crack propagation (at R = 0 and -1) and residual static-strength tests were conducted, on 2-inch-wide sheet specimens made of PH15-7Mo (TH 1050) stainless steel. Analysis of the data showed that as individual analysis methods both analyses satisfactorily correlated the majority of the test data. However, the material constants derived in the two analyses differed significantly. This difference was attributed to the different amounts of work-hardening which occurs in the material prior to failure in the two cases. The effects of the different stress ratios on fatigue-crack growth were studied. In addition, the capability of the residual-strength analysis to predict the effects of changing buckling restraint in the vicinity of the crack.and of changing specimen width were investigated. / Master of Science

In view of the significant advantages offered by semi-solid processing, such as reduction in number of intermediate processing steps and energy input, and the potential for improving component complexity, it is of paramount interest to develop indigenous technology for semi-solid forming of steels, especially nuclear grade steels. For adopting semisolid processing as an alternative method of manufacturing of steels, it is essential to study the amenability of the steel for the process, understand the fundamental mechanisms of micro structural evolution and evaluate the mechanical properties of the steel after processing. To achieve this goal, the present work attempts to appraise the amenability of a low-carbon variant of 18%Cr-8%Ni austenitic stainless steel (304L SS) for semi-solid processing. Among the many requirements of the feedstock in semi-solid processing, a key feature that makes it amenable for semi-solid processing is the unique microstructure containing solid spheroids in a liquid matrix, thereby enabling thixo-tropic behaviour in the alloy. To understand the micro structural evolution in the steel, during major steps of semi-solid processing (partial melting, soaking and solidification), several experiments are carried out by varying the key parameters such as temperature, soaking time and cooling rate. Experimental results are analyzed in details to specify the effects of these parameters on the microstructure of semi-solid processed steel. The analysis indicates different phase transformation sequences during solidification of the steel from its semi-solid state. On the basis of experimental results, mechanism for micro structural evolution during partial melting and subsequent solidification of 304L SS is proposed. The effect of soaking time on the size and shape of the solid globules is analyzed using the theory of anisotropic Ostwald ripening. The semi-solid processing parameters, such as soaking time and temperature, are found to have significant influence on the globule distribution, globule shape, ferrite distribution and dislocation density, which in turn govern the tensile behaviour and mechanical properties of the steel after processing. Semi-solid processed 304L SS exhibits lower yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and higher strain hardening in temperature range 303–873K compared to as-received (rolled and subsequently annealed) 304L SS. However, semi-solid processed steel shows higher uniform elongation and fracture strain compared to the as-received steel. A pronounced effect of semi-solid processing is also found on the high temperature plasticity and dynamic recrystallization pattern. This work demonstrates the amenability of 300 series austenitic stainless steels for semi-solid processing. The investigation provides the significant insight into the mechanism of micro structural evolution in austenitic stainless steels during semi-solid processing and the important information on the mechanical properties and plastic flow behavior of the semi-solid processed steel. The results give crucial inputs for the optimization of processing parameters for obtaining the desired property in the product, and also for deciding the potential industrial application of the process.