1.

The rf plasma carbonitriding of AISI-304 austenitic stainless steel was examined

as a function of plasma time. The properties of the carbonitrided layer were
determined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray
diffraction and microhardness testing. For the sample treated for 10 min, the rate of
carbonitriding was calculated to be 0.5 m2/s. The surface hardness of the
carbonitrided layer processed for 10 min was 1715 Hv, 0.1 as compared to 228 Hv,
0.1 for the untreated surface. The high rate of carbonitriding and the excellent
microhardness of the compound layer have been explained in terms of nitrogen and
carbon concentration gradients, microcracks formed in the surface during the
plasma process and temperature gradients.

(RF plasma carbonitriding of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

F.M. El-Hossary, a, , N.Z. Negma, S.M. Khalila, A.M. Abed Elrahmana, D.N.
McIlroyb

a Physics Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Sohag, Egypt

b Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-0903, USA

Received 28 September 2000, Accepted 12 February 2001, Available online 22

June 2001)

2.Very high cycle fatigue behaviour of austenitic stainless steel

The austenitic stainless steel studied was found to show a constant fatigue limit
from 106 to 109 cycles that is primarily attributed to the strengthening effect of
martensitic transformation.
3. Effect of particle velocity and impact angle on the corrosionerosion of AISI
304
D. Lpeza, , ,
J.P. Congoteb,
J.R. Canob,
A. Torob,
A.P. Tschiptschina
a
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, University of So Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello
Moraes, 2463 CEP, So Paulo, Brazil
 b
Tribology and Surfaces Group, National University of Colombia, Medelln, Colombia
Received 1 August 2004,
The tests were performed using slurry composed of 0.5 M H2SO4 + 3.5% NaCl and 30 wt
% quartz particles with 0.210.30 mm mean diameter. Potentiodynamic curves, AFM
and SEM analyses allowed identification of the wear mechanisms and assessment of
the degree of surface damage. The slurry temperature was monitored and pH of solution
and solid contents of the slurry were fixed during the tests. The results obtained for AISI
304 steel showed a gentle degradation regime for normal incidence and low impact
velocity (4.5 m s1), while a severe degradation regime was found for grazing incidence
and high impact velocity (8.5 m s1). The severe condition was characterized by intense
plastic strain and formation of lips and prows. Mechanical effects were predominant over
the corrosive ones, and the surface behaved mainly in a ductile manner.

4.

Effect of nitriding time on the nitrided layer of AISI 304

austenitic stainless steel
Liang Wang, ,
Shijun Ji,
Juncai Sun
Institute of Metals and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116024, PR China
Received 19 October 2004, Accepted 19 May 2005, Available online 11 July 2005

The effect of plasma nitriding time on the microstructure and phase composition of nitrided
layers on AISI 304 stainless steel was investigated. The phase composition and structure of the
nitrided layer have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy
(SEM). The XRD analysis of samples treated at 420 C showed the presence of N phase in the
nitrided layers for all nitriding times involved in this study. The lattice parameters calculated
based on N(111) and N(200) were different and became larger with time for up to 5 h of nitriding
treatment. The surface hardness of nitrided layer was also increased with nitriding time. The
maximum thickness of the nitrided layer reached 27 m after 44 h of treatment in this study.

5. Surface modification of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel by

plasma nitriding
Wang Liang,
Institute of Metals and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116024, PR China
Received 23 June 2002, Revised 23 June 2002, Accepted 24 February 2003, Available
online 8 April 2003
Plasma nitriding of austenitic stainless steel samples has been carried out using pulse dc glow
discharge plasma of NH3 gas at substrate temperature ranging from 350 to 520 C. A nitriding
time of only 4 h has been found to produce a compact surface nitride layer composed of N
phase with a thickness of around 712 m as processing temperature remained between 420
and 450 C. The thickness of N phase was found to be very thin only about 2 m after plasma
nitriding at temperature below 400 C. Microhardness measurements showed significant
increase in the hardness from 240 HV (for untreated samples) up to 1700 HV (for nitrided
samples at temperature of 460 C). For nitriding at higher temperature, i.e. above 460 C, the
chromium nitrides precipitated in the nitrided layer and caused austenite phase transform into
ferrite phase or iron nitrides ( or ). The consequent result of chromium nitride precipitation is
the reduction of corrosion resistance of nitrided layer. Compressive residual stresses existed in
the nitrided layer due to nitrogen diffusion into austenitic stainless steel.

6. Precipitation in creep resistant austenitic

stainless steels
Abstract
Austenitic stainless steels have for some time been used as
superheater tubes in the electricity generation industries in harsh
environments with temperatures as high as 650C at pressures of
some 200 atm; they are expected to provide reliable service for 30
years or more. Their detailed mechanical properties are dependent on
the stability of the microstructure, particularly the formation,
dissolution, and coarsening of precipitates. Although the precipitation
processes have been studied extensively, there remain important
discrepancies. It is known that small changes in the chemical
composition or thermomechanical processing can profoundly influence
the evolution of the microstructure. This review focuses on
precipitation in creep resistant austenitic stainless steels, in particular
wrought heat resistant grades containing niobium and titanium
additions. Conventional alloys such as 188 and 1610 are included
together with the new NF709 (2025) and other recent variants.
Precipitates forming in age hardening austenitic stainless steels are
only briefly presented. Many studies have shown that MX is not a
stoichiometric phase, and that chromium can be incorporated in the
metal sublattice. Furthermore, the reported compositions show
considerable variation. These studies are assessed and an explanation
is offered, in terms of the GibbsThompson effect, for the variation. A
rational consideration of all the results suggests a size dependence in
line with capillarity considerations. The MX phase does not form in
isolation; its stability also depends on the formation of M 23C6. The
literature reveals that NbC is more stable than M23C6 but the case for
TiC is less certain. The formation of Z phase in nitrogen bearing steels
is a further complicating factor, and it is concluded that its formation is
not adequately understood. This is unlike the case for M 23C6, where
there is consistent reporting in the literature. Finally, work on the M6C
carbide in austenitic stainless steels is critically assessed. It is found
 that its detailed composition is not well characterised and that there
are no general rules apparent about its formation. The review also
covers intermetallic compounds such as phase. It is clear that
chromium concentrations in excess of 18 wt-%, combined with a low
carbon concentration, promote the formation of phase. This has
implications particularly for steels containing niobium and titanium,
both of which getter carbon. Other compounds reviewed include and
G phases, which form at high temperatures and during very long aging
such as that encountered in service.

Recrystallization in AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

during and after hot deformation
A. Dehghan-Manshadia, b, , ,
M.R. Barnettb, ,
P.D. Hodgsonb,
Volume 485, Issues 12, 25 June 2008, Pages 664672

in order to improve the understanding of the dynamic and post-dynamic recrystallization

behaviours of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel, a series of hot torsion test have been
performed under a range of deformation conditions. The mechanical and microstructural
features of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) were characterized to compare and contrast them
with those of the post-dynamic recrystallization. A necklace type of dynamically recrystallized
microstructure was observed during hot deformation at 900 C and at a strain rate of 0.01 s1.
Following deformation, the dependency of time for 50% recrystallization, t50, changed from
strain dependent to strain independent at a transition strain (*), which is significantly beyond
the peak. This transition strain was clearly linked to the strain for 50% dynamic recrystallization
during deformation. The interrelations between the fraction of dynamically recrystallized
microstructure, the evolution of post-dynamically recrystallized microstructure and the final grain
size have been established. The results also showed an important role of grain growth on
softening of deformed austenite.