An Investigation into the Reverse Transformation Mechanisms in the Heat Treatment of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Cold working of austenitic stainless steel results in the formation of alpha'-martensite (ferromagnetic) within the host material (paramagnetic). The role of alpha'-martensite and carbide precipitation in the reverse transformation mechanism during the heat treatment of AISI 304 is presented. A magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) measurement technique was employed to characterize the transformation mechanisms. MBN was found to be an effective tool for studying the transformation mechanisms of austenite to alpha'-martensite during material deformation as MBN and the ferromagnetic phase showed a good correlation. AISI 304 specimens plastically strained to 51 % were subjected to annealing heat treatment (from 100 degrees C to 1,100 degrees C) for 30 minutes. The alpha'-martensite to austenite reversion mechanisms were found to have a significant effect on residual stress and materials magnetic properties, thus limiting MBN effectiveness in studying the reverse transformation process. Residual stresses go from tensile to compressive between 500 degrees C and 600 degrees C as a result of the transformation mechanisms, as the austenitic phase is larger than alpha'-martensite and therefore compresses the remaining alpha'-martensite. It is suggested that epsilon-martensite has a significant role in the dislocation structural mechanisms in the heat treatment of AISI 304.