Strain partitioning and texture evolution during cold rolling of AISI 201 austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier B.V.Strain partitioning and texture evolution of AISI 201 austenitic stainless steel were investigated upon cold rolling up to a true strain of ε = 0.92. ε-martensite formation is the main work hardening mechanism at low strains (ε = 0.11). With increasing strain, the volume fraction of α’-martensite increases with a sigmoidal-like behavior. Remaining untransformed austenite is intensely fragmented by mechanical microtwins. The in-grain misorientation increases for all phases up ε = 0.51 and then levels off for further strain. Strain partitions evenly between austenite and α’-martensite during cold rolling. X-ray texture measurements revealed that austenite develops Goss, Brass and S texture components up to the largest investigated strain. The presence of Brass component at the highest deformation seems to be assisted by mechanical twinning. The texture components of α’-martensite belong to the α- and γ- fibers. Texture evolution of ε-martensite was followed by electron backscatter diffraction data and results show that texture evolves up to ε = 0.51 and remains nearly unchanged at larger strains, similarly as observed for austenite and α’-martensite.

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