Effect of repeated warm rolling cold rolling and annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 301LN grade austenitic stainless steel

Global warming now days is an important issue over the world. To reduce the effect of global warming high strength structural steels are required to develop which will able to make safe body white future vehicle. In this matter advanced thermomechanical treatments of steel play a vital role. In present context, a repeated warm rolling, cold rolling and annealing treatments were applied to AISI 301LN grade austenitic stainless steel. Due to formation of ultra-fine grain structure (Average grain size approximate to 4 mu m) at treated materials as compared to large grain (Average grain size approximate to 35 mu m) structure of as-received material, the treated steel was showing excellent mechanical properties. It was showing 667 MPa Y.S., 1095 MPa U.T.S. and 40% elongation as compared to 405 MPa Y.S., 841 MPa U.T.S. and 78% elongation of base material. The average misorientation angle of the treated specimen was slight high (approximate to 39 degrees) in compare with as received hot rolled material (approximate to 34 degrees). This is the indications of highly recrystallized structure of the treated materials. It indirectly helps to improve the mobility of dislocations around grain boundary towards improvement of the ductility of the material. The fractographic image of the treated material is supporting the high ductile behavior along with high strength of this material. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.