Microstructural Evolution of an Al-Alloyed Duplex Stainless Steel During Tensile Deformation Between 77 K and 473 K (−196 °C and 200 °C)

Tensile deformation behavior of an Al-alloyed Fe-17Cr-6Mn-4Al-3Ni-0.45C (mass pct) duplex stainless steel containing approximately 20 vol pct ferrite was studied in the temperature range from 77 K to 473 K (−196 °C to 200 °C). While the elongation exhibited a maximum near room temperature, the yield strength continuously increased at lower tensile test temperatures. According to the microstructural examinations, the twinning-induced plasticity and the dislocation cell formation were the dominant deformation mechanisms in the austenite and ferrite, respectively. Reduction of the tensile ductility at T < 273 K (0 °C) was attributed to the ready material decohesion at the ferrite/austenite boundaries. Tensile testing at 473 K (200 °C) was associated with the serrated flow which was ascribed to the Portevin–Le Chatelier effect. Due to a rise in the stacking fault energy of austenite, the occurrence of mechanical twinning was impeded at higher tensile test temperatures. Furthermore, the evolution of microstructural constituents at room temperature was studied by interrupted tensile tests. The deformation in the austenite phase started with the formation of Taylor lattices followed by mechanical twinning at higher strains/stresses. In the ferrite phase, on the other hand, the formation of dislocation cells, cell refinement, and microbands formation occurred in sequence during deformation. Microhardness evolution of ferrite and austenite in the interrupted tensile test specimens implied a higher strain-hardening rate for the austenite as it clearly became the harder phase at higher tensile strain levels.