Hot Deformation and Microstructural Characteristics of Nitrogen Enhanced 316L Stainless Steel

Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in 316LN austenitic stainless steel with 0.14wt% nitrogen has been studied using hot isothermal compression tests carried out in temperature range 1073-1423K and strain rate range 0.001 - 10 s-1. Critical strain and stress for DRX has been characterized using experimental data. Analysis of results shows that for the entire domain the critical stress is directly proportional to peak stress. However, no clear relationship between εc and εp prevails over the entire tested domain. Dynamic Recrystallized (DRX) grains are quantified by GOS and KAM maps. The four stages of DRX progression have been identified using the correlation between GOS and critical strain at different deformation conditions.