Phase morphology evolution in AISI301 austenite stainless steel under different cooling rates

Abstract

Quenching experiments were performed at different cooling rates under non-directional solidification by differential thermal analysis, and the morphologic variation of primary phase, phase transition temperature and hardness change at the same quenching temperature were investigated. The experimental results show that, with the gradual decrease of the cooling rate from 25 K/min, the morphology of ferrite starts to transform experiencing the dendrite, radial pattern, Widmanstatten-like and wire-net. Sample starts to present the Widmanstatten-like microstructure at 10 K/min which does not exist at higher or lower cooling rates, and this microstructure is detrimental to the mechanical property. Except 10 K/min, the hardness decreases with decreasing cooling rate.

Keywords

cooling rate / non-directional solidification / morphology evolution / primary phase

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