Os aços inoxidáveis duplex são materiais com um excelente desempenho, devido às suas sobressalentes propriedades mecânicas e excelente resistência à corrosão. Uma composição química adequada e microestrutura balanceada são as responsáveis por esta combinação de propriedades. No entanto, são estes mesmos fatores que os fazem especialmente susceptíveis à precipitação de fases intermetálicas, com efeitos maléficos no seu desempenho. Durante os ciclos térmicos de uma soldagem multipasse, a precipitação de intermetálicos é crítica. Foi desenvolvido um método para simular os ciclos térmicos de uma solda multipasse. Usando este método, foi estudada a precipitação de nitreto de cromo e fase sigma na zona afetada pelo calor submetida a temperaturas abaixo de 950°C dos aços inoxidáveis duplex UNS S31803 e S32550. Foram estudadas energias de soldagem na faixa de 0,4 a 1,0 kJ/mm. Foi determinada mediante extração de precipitados, seguida de difração de raios X na câmara de Debye-Scherrer e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, a precipitação de nitreto de cromo para energias de soldagem de 0,4 a 1,0 kJ/mm e de fase sigma para energias de soldagem de 0,6-1,0 KJ/mm, no UNS S32550. Já o UNS S31803 não apresentou precipitação alguma para as energias de soldagem estudadas. Baseando-se nos resultados verifica-se que durante uma soldagem multipasse o UNS S31803 é menos propenso que o UNS S32550 à precipitação de intermetálicos na zona afetada pelo calor submetida a temperaturas abaixo de 950°C. / Duplex stainless steels belong to a group of high performance stainless steels regarding to corrosion and mechanical properties. These achievements are related to a suitable chemical composition and a balanced microstructure. During welding thermal cycles the microstructure changes and, consequently, corrosion and mechanical properties might be impaired due to a precipitation of intermetallic phases. This precipitation is an issue to be addressed for multipass welding. It was developed a method for simulate the multipass welding thermal cycles. Using this method chromium nitride and sigma phase precipitation was studied in a simulated heat affected zone of multipass welding (three passes) of UNS S31803 and UNS S32550 duplex stainless steels with different heat inputs (0,4 to 1,0 kJ/mm). The HAZ simulated region was below 950°C maximum temperature. Microstructural characterization of simulated samples showed discontinuous films of a precipitated phase at ferrite/ferrite grain boundaries and ferrite/austenite interfaces were observed only in a UNS S32550 duplex grade for all heat inputs simulated. This suggests that sigma phase and chromium nitride precipitation took place during sample thermocycling. X-ray diffraction in a Debye-Scherrer chamber of extracted precipitates and electron diffraction by TEM confirmed the presence of chromium nitrides for all range of heat input studied and sigma phase for heat input above 0,6 kJ/mm. On the other hand, microstructural analysis of UNS S31803 simulated samples did not present precipitation of intermetallic phases in the tested temperature range of HAZ. Based on these results, UNS S31803 is more resistant than UNS S32550 to intermetallic phases precipitation in multipass welding.

Abstract The effects of restoration and certain elements, nitrogen, sulphur, calcium and Misch metal, on the hot ductility of austenitic, high-alloyed austenitic and duplex stainless steels have been investigated by means of hot rolling, hot tensile, hot bending and stress relaxation tests. The results of these different testing methods indicated that hot rolling experiments using stepped specimens is the most effective way to investigate the relationship between the softening and cracking phenomena under hot rolling conditions. For as-cast, high-alloyed and duplex stainless steels with a low impurity level, the cracking tendency was observed to increase with increasing pass strain and temperature, being minimal for the small strain of 0.1. No cracking occurred in these steels when rolled in the wrought condition. It could be concluded that the cracking problems are only exhibited by the cast structure with the hot ductility of even partially recrystallised steel being perfectly adequate. However, the recrystallisation kinetics of the high-alloyed austenitic stainless steels, determined by stress relaxation and double-pass rolling tests, were found to be so slow that only partial softening can be expected to occur between roughing passes under normal rolling conditions. In the duplex steel, the restoration is fairly fast so that complete softening can occur within typical interpass times in hot rolling, while certain changes in the phase structure take place as well. Sulphur was found to be an extremely harmful element in duplex stainless steel with regard to their hot ductility so that severe cracking can take place with sulphur content above 30 ppm. However, the effect of sulphur can be eliminated by reducing its content and by calcium or Misch metal treatments that significantly increase the number and decrease the average size of the inclusions. It seems that the desulphurisation capacity of an element is the most important property for assessing its usefulness in reducing the detrimental influence of sulphur. The hot ductility of type 316L stainless steel determined by tensile tests was found to be better for nitrogen content of 0.05 wt-% than 0.02%, while in double-hit tensile tests the hot ductility values were identical. The mechanism whereby nitrogen affects hot ductility remains unclear but a retarding effect on static recrystallisation was observed.

[pt] A exposição de aços a condições de geração de hidrogênio, como em ambientes que contenham H2S ou sob proteção catódica, pode provocar o aumento do teor de hidrogênio na sua superfície, fragilizando o material. Foi desenvolvido um estudo com o objetivo de comparar o comportamento das microestruturas de dois diferentes aços inoxidáveis, um austenítico de classe P550 e um duplex S31803, com relação à permeação e consequente fragilização pelo hidrogênio. Os aços foram testados nas condições com e sem solda autógena utilizando os mesmos parâmetros de soldagem. Foram realizados análise microestrutural por MO, MEV e MET, ensaios de tração, ensaios de BTD com os corpos de prova imersos em solução de água do mar sintética e sob aplicação de potencial catódico de -1200 mV SCE, com o objetivo de simular condições de serviço e fractografia por MEV dos corpos de prova ensaiados por BTD. Observou-se que ambas as classes de aços sofreram alguma fragilização, no entanto, com relação à perda de ductilidade em função da redução de área dos corpos de prova, esta ocorreu de forma mais pronunciada para o aço inoxidável duplex. Foi observado que o aço austenítico no metal de base continha maior densidade de maclas do que o metal de solda, resultando em maior fragilização. Além disto, no metal de base, observou-se mais alta densidade de discordâncias e de precipitados. O aço duplex, por outro lado, apresentou fragilização muito maior do que o austenítico em ambas as condições quando permeado pelo hidrogênio. No entanto, esta fragilização foi mais pronunciada na condição de como soldado. Atribuiu-se este comportamento à ferritização parcial da estrutura e à formação de austenita Widmanstätten. As análises fractográficas sugerem a alteração do mecanismo de fratura dos corpos de prova de dúctil, quando ensaiados ao ar, para frágil, na condição de ensaio com geração de hidrogênio. Esta observação fundamenta-se no fato de que as superfícies de fratura de todos os corpos de prova ensaiados ao ar são formadas predominantemente por dimples (dúctil), enquanto no ensaio com geração de hidrogênio, as superfícies de fratura se apresentam com aspecto frágil de diferentes formas para cada aço. / [en] Steel exposure to hydrogen generation conditions, such as in environments containing H2S or under cathodic protection, can cause an increase in the hydrogen content on the surface which leads to the material embrittlement. A comparative study was carried out on the structure behavior of two different stainless steels, an austenitic class P550 and a duplex S31803, concerning permeation and consequent hydrogen embrittlement. The steels were tested in conditions with and without autogenous welding using the same welding parameters. It was performed microstructural analysis by OM, SEM and TEM, tensile tests, BTD tests with the specimens immersed in a synthetic seawater solution and under application of a cathodic potential of -1200 mV SCE, in order to simulate service conditions, and surface fractography of these specimens by SEM. It was observed that both grades of steel suffered some fragility. However, the loss of ductility due to the reduction of the area of the specimens occurred in a more pronounced way for the duplex stainless steel. It was also observed that the austenitic steel in the base metal contained a higher density of twinnings than the weld metal, resulting in greater embrittlement. In addition, a higher density of dislocations and precipitates was observed in the base metal. On the other hand, duplex steel showed much more significant embrittlement than austenitic in both conditions when permeated by hydrogen. However, this weakness was more pronounced in the as welded condition. This behavior was attributed to the partial ferritization of the structure and the formation of Widmanstätten austenite. Fractographic analyzes suggest that the fracture mechanism morphology changed from ductile to brittle when the specimens were tested in the air and hydrogen condition respectively. This observation is based on the fact that the fracture surfaces of all samples tested in the air consisted predominantly of dimples (ductile). In contrast, in the test with hydrogen generation, the fracture surfaces appear with different brittle morphologies for each steel.

Duplex stainless steels (DSSs) are important engineering materials due to their combination of good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. However, as a consequence of their ferrite content, DSSs are sensitive to the so-called ‘475°C embrittlement’, which is induced by phase separation, namely, the ferrite decomposed into Fe-rich ferrite (α) and Cr-rich ferrite (α'), respectively. The phase separation is accompanied with a severe loss of toughness. Thus, the ‘475°C embrittlement’ phenomenon limits DSSs’ upper service temperature to around 250°C. In the present work, Fe-Cr binary model alloys and commercial DSSs from weldments were investigated for the study of phase separation in ferrite. Different techniques were employed to study the phase separation in model alloys and commercial DSSs, including atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy and micro-hardness test. Three different model alloys, Fe-25Cr, Fe-30Cr and Fe-35Cr (wt. %) were analyzed by atom probe tomography after different aging times. A new method based on radial distribution function was developed to evaluate the wavelength and amplitude of phase separation in these Fe-Cr binary alloys. The results were compared with the wavelengths obtained from 1D auto-correlation function and amplitudes from Langer-Bar-On-Miller method. It was found that the wavelengths from 1D auto-correlation function cannot reflect the 3D nano-scaled structures as accurate as those obtained by radial distribution function. Furthermore, the Langer-Bar-On-Miller method underestimates the amplitudes of phase separation. Commercial DSSs of SAF2205, 2304, 2507 and 25.10.4L were employed to investigate the connections between phase separation and mechanical properties from different microstructures (base metal, heat-affected-zone and welding bead) in welding. Moreover, the effect of external tensile stress during aging on phase separation of ferrite was also investigated. It was found that atom probe tomography is very useful for the analysis of phase separation in ferrite and the radial distribution function (RDF) is an effective method to compare the extent of phase separation at the very early stages. RDF is even more sensitive than frequency diagrams. In addition, the results indicate that the mechanical properties are highly connected with the phase separation in ferrite and other phenomena, such as Ni-Mn-Si-Cu clusters, that can also deteriorate the mechanical properties. / <p>QC 20130308</p>

Les aciers inoxydables duplex présentent une combinaison intéressante entre des propriétés mécaniques élevées, une faible conductivité thermique et un coût relativement faible. Ils sont couramment employés dans le domaine du bâtiment comme rond à béton, application qui requière notamment une résistance élevée (Rm > 950 MPa) et une ductilité importante (A% > 15). Cette thèse a pour objectif d’améliorer le compromis résistance / allongement, en développant de nouvelles nuances duplex présentant une transformation martensitique induite par la plasticité (effet TRIP) aux caractéristiques contrôlées. L’optimisation de ce compromis a nécessité en particulier une compréhension détaillée des mécanismes de transformation et de déformation plastique associés à chaque phase : la ferrite (BCC), l’austénite (FCC) et la martensite (BCC).L’influence de la transformation martensitique sur le comportement mécanique est étudiée pour quatre alliages duplex de stabilité variable de la phase austénitique en fonction de leur composition chimique. L’influence d’une microstructure multiphasée sur la cinétique de transformation est déterminée grâce à l’élaboration de trois nuances modèles représentant respectivement une nuance duplex et es deux compositions représentatives de ses constituants austénite et ferrite. L’utilisation de plusieurs techniques de caractérisation à différentes échelles a permis de décrire à la fois les mécanismes de transformation de phase et leur cinétique en fonction de la déformation, donnant ainsi accès à leur influence sur le comportement mécanique. L’étude des champs cinématiques a mis en évidence l’impact de la phase martensitique sur la répartition des déformations dans la microstructure multi-phasée. Finalement l’utilisation d’un modèle mécanique prenant en compte explicitement la transformation martensitique a permis de reproduire le comportement mécanique d’un alliage duplex. / Duplex stainless steels offer an attractive combination of high mechanical properties, low thermalconductivity and a relatively low cost. They are increasingly used as structural materials such as inthe construction sector as concrete reinforcement bars, where both high strength (Rm > 900 MPa)and high elongation to failure (A% > 15 %) are required. This thesis aims at improving the strength/ elongation compromise by developing new duplex stainless steel compositions experiencing a wellcontrolledmartensitic transformation induced by plasticity (TRIP effect). The optimisation of thiscompromise has required a good understanding of the transformation mechanisms and of plasticdeformation associated with each phase : ferrite (BCC), austenite (FCC) and martensite (BCC).The influence of martensitic transformation on mechanical behavior has been studied in four duplexgrades of variable austenite stability as a function of their chemical composition. The influence ofmultiphase microstructure on martensitic transformation kinetics has been determined by makingthree alloys respectively representative of a duplex grade and its two constituents (austenite andferrite). Using multiple characterization techniques at different scales has allowed determiningboth the transformation mechanisms and its kinetics as a function of strain, giving thus accessto the influence of transformation on the mechanical behavior. The study of kinematic fields hashighlighted the impact of the martensitic phase on the distribution of deformations. Finally, theuse of a mechanical model taking explicitly into account the phase transformation has allowed theduplication of the mechanical behavior of a duplex stainless steel.

Les aciers inoxydables austéno-ferritiques présentent une microstructure biphasée dans laquelle se mêlent austénite et ferrite. Leurs caractéristiques mécaniques élevées ainsi que leur bonne tenue en corrosion en font un candidat sérieux pour remplacer les aciers inoxydables austénitiques. Malheureusement, la faible forgeabilité de ces alliages rend la fabrication de tôles particulièrement critique. En effet, le phénomène de « crique de rive » est fréquemment rencontré au cours des étapes du laminage à chaud. Par conséquent, cela nécessite des opérations supplémentaires comme le découpage des rives, ce qui aboutit à une augmentation des coûts de production. Les différents facteurs influençant la ductilité à chaud de ces aciers sont passés en revue afin d'identifier quels sont les zones d'ombres. La synthèse bibliographique révèle deux zones d'ombres : d'une part, le manque d'un essai de ductilité à chaud permettant de discriminer différentes microstructures en terme de résistance à la propagation de fissure à haute température ; et d'autre part l'absence de données quantitative concernant la partition de la déformation entre la ferrite et l'austénite lors des étapes de mise en forme à chaud. Le concept de travail essentiel de rupture a été appliqué à hautes températures. Il a été démontré que cette méthode est fiable et discriminante pour quantifier la résistance à la propagation de fissure à haute température. Elle permet également de générer un paramètre physique pertinent pour optimiser les microstructures par rapport à un mode de mise en forme donné. La technique conventionnelle de micro-grilles a été adaptée de manière à cartographier à haute température les déformations à l'échelle de la microstructure. Cette technique fournit en plus des résultats qualitatifs concernant les mécanismes de déformations, des données quantitatives à propos de la partition de la déformation entre la ferrite et l'austénite. Ces données peuvent être utilisées afin de valider les modèles qui prédisent le comportement à chaud des aciers duplex pendant les premières étapes du laminage à chaud. Les deux outils developpés au cours de cette étude permettent de donner des solutions pour éviter le phénomène de « crique de rives ». / The Duplex Stainless Steels (DSS) are defined as a family of stainless steels consisting of a two-phase microstructure involving δ-ferrite and γ-austenite. Exceptional combinations of strength and toughness together with good corrosion resistance under critical working conditions designate DSS a suitable alternative to conventional austenitic stainless steels. Unfortunately, the relatively poor hot workability of these alloys makes the industrial processing of flat products particularly critical. Cracking of the coils during hot rolling along the edges is frequently reported. As a consequence, additional operations like grinding, discontinuous processing or scraping are often required, leading to increased manufacturing costs. The different parameters affecting the hot working of duplex stainless steels have been reviewed in order to identify which are the missing pieces of the puzzle. The bibliographical review reveals that two pieces are missing in the hot workability puzzle. On the one hand, it is necessary to develop a new hot ductility test which allows discriminating microstructures in terms of high temperature tearing resistance, and on the other hand, quantitative data about the strain partitioning between ferrite and austenite during the hot working operations are needed. The Essential Work of Fracture concept has been applied at high temperature. It has been demonstrated that this method is a reliable and discriminating tool for quantifying the high temperature tearing resistance and to generate a physically relevant index to guide the optimization of microstructures towards successful forming operations. A modified micro-grid technique has been developed to experimentally simulate the local state of deformation of different duplex microstructures at high temperature. This technique provides qualitative results about the deformation features as well as quantitative data about the strain partitioning between ferrite and austenite. The micro-strain distributions measured can be used to validate the models predicting the hot deformation of duplex stainless steels during the roughing-mill operations. The two tools developed in this investigation allow suggesting possible remedies for the edge cracking phenomenon.

La Corrosion Haute Température (HTC), en environnements divers et sévères, d'alliages métalliques toujours plus élaborés en termes de composition et micro-structure, est un sujet industriel et scientifique très complexe. La PhotoElectroChimie (PEC) est une technique de choix pour caractériser les propriétés physico-chimiques et électroniques des couches d'oxydation très hétérogènes formées en HTC. Sur des exemples d'alliages modèles mais représentatifs de la réalité industrielle (aciers duplex, base-Nickel 690), ce travail présente le développement et la validation d'un dispositif expérimental permettant d'appliquer pour la première fois tout l'arsenal des techniques PEC à l'échelle mésoscopique (typiquement 30 µm), ainsi que la validation d'une modélisation originale développée au SIMaP des spectres de photocourants en énergie, qui permet de les décrire et ajuster finement et d'en extraire notamment avec précision les gaps des oxydes semiconducteurs présents dans la couche thermique. / High Temperature Corrosion (HTC), in various and severe atmospheres, of continually more elaborated (composition, micro–structure) metallic alloys, is a rather complex industrial and scientific topic. PhotoElectroChemistry (PEC) acquired a special place in the characterization of physico–chemical and electronic properties of the highly heterogeneous oxidation layers formed in HTC. Through studies of model but industrially representative samples (duplex stainless steel, Ni–base alloy 690), this work presents the development and validation of an experimental set–up allowing for the first time to use the whole set of PEC techniques at the mesoscopic level (typically 30 µm), as well as the validation of an original model of photocurrent energy spectra, developed at SIMaP, allowing to well describe, and accurately fit the latter spectra, and thus yielding, notably, precise bandgap values for the semiconducting components of the thermal scale.

[pt] Atualmente, pesquisas envolvendo metais e suas ligas têm como um de seus objetivos o controle microestrutural, como forma de aprimorar as propriedades de interesse, para as aplicações desejadas. Um fator importante que possui influência nas propriedades dos materiais policristalinos são os tipos, e distribuições de contornos de grãos e/ou de fase. A aplicação de processos que envolvam altas temperaturas, como tratamentos térmicos ou processos de soldagem, podem levar a transformações de fase, as quais modificam a cristalografia, composição química, distribuição e tamanho dos grãos. Os aços inoxidáveis duplex são ligas bifásicas constituídas de proporções aproximadamente iguais de ferrita e austenita pertencentes ao sistema Fe-Cr-Ni. Essa estrutura bifásica combina elevada resistência, boa tenacidade e excelente resistência à corrosão. Devido à essas excelentes propriedades são utilizadas em vários setores industriais como: indústrias químicas, petroquímicas, de petróleo e gás, e de construção naval. Incrementos na concentração de Cr e Ni nestes aços levam a formação de duas novas classes, os aços super e hiper duplex, cujas propriedades são semelhantes aos aços duplex, porém superiores. Neste caso, devido ao aumento no teor dos elementos de liga os processos de soldagem podem levar a formação de fases intermetálicas e/ou precipitados, as quais são deletérias as propriedades dos aços, facilitando o processo de corrosão. Muitas das transformações no estado sólido que ocorrem nos aços, seguem determinadas relações de orientação cristalográfica. Essas relações descrevem as interfaces de baixa energia que determinam os processos de nucleação e crescimento de novas fases. Portanto a determinação das relações de orientação presente nos aços duplex, super-duplex e hiper-duplex, a partir de transformações de fase obtidas em condições de equilíbrio e paraequilíbrio foram estudadas com a intenção de correlacionar com a susceptibilidade à corrosão por pites. Foram estudados os aços UNS S32205, UNS S32750 e UNS S33207, respectivamente pertencendo as classes duplex, super e hiperduplex A determinação das relações de orientação e fração de fases foi obtida por difração de elétrons retroespalhados (Electron Backscattering Diffraction - EBSD). A composição química das fases foi obtida por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy - EDS). Estes dados foram correlacionados com os resultados obtidos após testes de corrosão ASTM G-48. Para todos os aços se observa a tendência do aumento da relação de orientação KS após submissão aos ciclos térmicos. No entanto, para as condições estudadas não foi encontrada uma correlação clara entre a presença da orientação KS com a formação de pites na ferrita. / [en] Currently, research involving metals and their alloys has microstructural control as one of its objectives, to improve the properties of interest, for the desired applications. An important factor that influences the properties of polycrystalline materials are the types and distributions of grain and/or phase boundaries. The application of processes involving high temperatures, such as heat treatments or welding processes, can lead to phase transformations, which modify the crystallography, chemical composition, distribution and size of the grains. Duplex stainless steels are biphasic alloys made up of approximately equal proportions of ferrite and austenite belonging to the Fe-Cr-Ni system. This two-phase structure combines high strength, good toughness and excellent corrosion resistance. Due to these excellent properties, they are used in various industrial sectors such as: chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas, and shipbuilding industries. Increases in the concentration of Cr and Ni in these steels lead to the formation of two new classes, super and hyper duplex steels, whose properties are like duplex steels, but superior. In this case, due to the increase in the content of alloying elements, the welding processes can lead to the formation of intermetallic phases and/or precipitates, which are deleterious to the properties of the steels, facilitating the corrosion process. Many of the solid-state transformations that occur in steels follow certain crystallographic orientation relationships. These relationships describe the lowenergy interfaces that determine the processes of nucleation and growth of new phases. Therefore, the determination of orientation relationships presents in duplex, super-duplex and hyper-duplex steels, from phase transformations obtained under equilibrium and paraequilibrium conditions, were studied with the intention of correlating with the susceptibility to pitting corrosion. The UNS S32205, UNS S32750 and UNS S33207 steels were studied, respectively belonging to the duplex, super and hyperduplex classes. of the phases was obtained by Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS). These data were correlated with the results obtained after ASTM G-48 corrosion tests. For all steels, there is a trend towards an increase in the KS orientation ratio after submission to thermal cycles, however no clear correlation between the presence of the KS orientation and the formation of pits in the ferrite was found.

Duplex stainless steels (DSSs), consisting of an equal amount of ferrite and austenite phases, have wide applications in e.g. vehicles, chemical engineering as well as nuclear plant  because  of  the  combination  of  excellent  mechanical properties  and  corrosion resistance.  However,  low  temperature  embrittlement has  existed  for  a  few  decades restricting the application of DSSs over about 250 ºC. When the service temperature ranges from around 250 to 500 °C, DSSs would become brittle because of the phase separation in the ferrite  phase. The phase separation is the  main reason  for the  low temperature embrittlement, and the kinetic of this phase separation achieves the fastest rate at about 475°C, so it is also termed as ‘475°C embrittlement’. Plenty of research has been performed in this field, but the problem remains. The mechanism of phase separation is due to the existence of a miscibility gap in the iron  chromium  binary  system,  and  previous  research  has  reported  some alloying elements can have the potency to delay the phase separation and the goal of my thesis is to investigate the influence of different alloying elements and select one which could be a plausible one to retard phase separation, and subsequently try to mitigate the low temperature embrittlement problem of DSSs. This  work  includes  the  literature survey  of  different  alloying  elements  which could influence   the   microstructure   and   mechanical   properties   of   DSSs   in general. Subsequently the thermodynamic calculation was performed to identify the effect of the  selected  alloying  elements  addition  on  phase  formation during  heat  treatment. Vanadium was selected to be a potentially suitable alloying element to be added into DSSs and experimental investigations were performed on the heat treatment process and the effect of V alloying. The main conclusions of the proposed thesis can be drawn as follow: The elemental addition  of Al,  Si, V,  Nb  and Ti  are  calculated  by Thermo-Calc,  they are  all  ferrite stabilisers and V addition seems most likely to be effective due its combination with the  interstitial  elements  C  and  N.  In  the  experimental  part, vanadium  additions combined with intermediate temperature solution treatment could be effective to retard the age hardening effect and the impact toughness test has a consistent tendency. Also, according to Thermo-Calc calculations and experimental results, the more interstitial elements that combine with V and precipitate from the ferrite phase the better was the performance of the duplex stainless steels. / Duplexa rostfria stål (DSS), bestående av lika stor mängd ferrit- och austenit, har bredtillämpning inom t.ex. fordon, kemiteknik samt kraftverk på grund av kombinationen av utmärkta mekaniska egenskaper och korrosionsbeständighet. Försprödning vid låg temperatur   begränsar emellertid tillämpningen   av   DSS   över   250   °C.   När driftstemperaturen varierar från cirka 250 till 500 ° C så kan DSS bli spröda på grund av   fasseparation   i   ferritfasen.   Fasseparationen   är   den    främsta   orsaken   till lågtemperaturförstöring, och kinetiken för denna fasseparation uppnår den snabbaste hastigheten  vid  cirka  475  °C,  så  den  kallas  också  '475  °C-försprödning'.  Mycket forskning har utförts inom detta område, men problemet kvarstår. Mekanismen för fasseparation beror på förekomsten av ett blandningslucka i det binära järn-krom-systemet, och tidigare forskning har rapporterat att vissa legeringselement kan  ha  förmågan  att  fördröja  fasseparationen.  Målet med mitt  examensarbete  är  att undersöka påverkan av olika legeringselement och välja ett som kan användas för att fördröja fasseparationen och därav mildra problemet med lågtemperaturförsprödning hos DSS. Detta  arbete  inkluderar  litteraturundersökning  av  olika  legeringselement som  kan påverka  mikrostrukturen  och  mekaniska  egenskaper  hos  DSS  i allmänhet.  Därefter termodynamiska beräkningar för att identifiera effekten av de valda legeringselementen på fasjämvikt under värmebehandlingen. Vanadin valdes som ett potentiellt lämpligt legeringselement som kan tillsättas i DSS. Experimentella undersökningar utfördes på värmebehandlingsprocessen och effekten av V-legering. De huvudsakliga slutsatserna av examensarbetetär: tillsatsen av Al, Si, V, Nb och Ti beräknades av Thermo-Calc, de är alla ferritstabiliserande och V-tillsats verkar kunna vara effektiv på grund av dess kombination med de interstitiella elementen C och N. I den    experimentella    delen    studerades vanadintillsatser    i    kombination    med värmebehandling för att fördröja den hårdnandet och försprödningen. Enligt Thermo- Calc-beräkningar  och experimentella  resultat  så  kan  prestanda  förbättras  desto  merinterstitiella element som kombineras med V.