MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF AUSTENITIC STEELS AFTER LOW-TEMPERATURE DEFORMATION AND TEMPERING

Deformation of unstable austenitic steels at negative temperatures is accompanied by formation of a large quantity of martensite (50-90%), which substantially increases the strength as compared with deformation at room temperature. Aging of strain martensite at 300-400 degree increases the ultimate strength and yield strength of steels Kh18N10T and Kh14G14N4TYu by 30-40 kg/mm**2. Additional alloying of unstable Cr-Ni steels with molybdenum, copper, and silicon increases the aging of strain martensite, making it possible to obtain an ultimate strength of 200-250 kg/mm**2 with delta equals 4% after low-temperature deformation followed by aging.