Effects of Dynamic Strain Aging on Strain Hardening Behavior, Dislocation Substructure, and Fracture Morphology in a Ferritic Stainless Steel

Dynamic strain aging at different temperatures and its effects on the strain hardening behavior, dislocation substructure and fracture morphology in a stainless steel grade 430 was investigated. Sheet type specimens were subjected to tensile tests performed at a temperature range of 298 K to 873 K. Subsequently, the strain hardening behavior of the material was depicted via modified Crussard-Jaoul analysis, strain hardening rate, and instantaneous strain hardening exponent curves. Changes in the dislocation substructure during the tests were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the fracture morphology of the specimens. The results indicated the occurrence of dynamic strain aging from 523 K to 773 K by the presence of the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect. These results were reinforced by the strain hardening analysis that revealed a three staged behavior at most of the studied temperatures, except during the dynamic strain aging regime, which presented an extra stage. Different substructures were observed as a function of the test temperatures: cellular dislocation substructure in the samples deformed at 298 K and 673 K, an array of straight and parallel dislocations in conjunction with a cellular substructure at 673 K, and finally a subgrained substructure with fine precipitates was formed at 873 K. A ductile surface fracture presenting a network of dimples and voids was present at all investigated temperatures, with a dimple size refinement being observed during the dynamic strain aging regime.