| Abstract Scope |
Stainless steel grades (both austenitic and ferritic) find a wide application in critical applications due to their superior properties such high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, good biocompatibility. Manufacturing e.g. medical equipment and implants made of stainless steel grades often involves wire drawing operations. Further improvement of mechanical properties require further research in the field of grain refinement which is the main strengthening mechanisms that does not decrease the ductility and toughness. In the present work, capabilities of grain refinement in austenitic steel grade using recently developed technology of Accumulative Angular Drawing (AAD) [1-2] is studied. Focus is put on analysis of the influence of process parameters on inhomogeneity of microstructure and related mechanical properties. The effects of complex deformation modes and strong strain accumulation are studied in the light of possible grain refinement through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and mechanical testing tools.
[1] M. Wielgus, J. Majta, J. Luksza, M. Packo, Effect of strain path on mechanical properties of wire drawing products, Steel Research International, Vol. 81 no. 9 spec. ed., 490-493 (2010)
[2] K. Muszka, L. Madej, J. Majta, The effect of deformation and microstructure inhomogenities in the Angular Accumulative Drawing (AAD), Materials Science and Engineering A, 574, 68-74 (2013) |