Effect of rolling deformation and solution treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast duplex stainless steel

The present study deals with the effect of rolling deformation and solution treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a cast duplex stainless steel. Cast steel reveals acicular/Widmanstatten morphology as well as island of austenite within the $\boldsymbol\delta $ -ferrite matrix. Hot rolled samples exhibit the presence of lower volume percent of elongated band of $\boldsymbol\delta $ -ferrite ( $\boldsymbol\sim $ 40%) and austenite phase which convert into finer and fragmented microstructural constituents after 30% cold deformation. By the solution treatment, the elongated and broken crystalline grains recrystallize which leads to the formation of finer grains (<10 $\boldsymbol\mu $ m) of austenite. X-ray diffraction analysis has corroborated well with the above-mentioned microstructural investigation. Enhancement in hardness, yield strength and tensile strength values as well as drop in percent elongation with cold deformation increases its suitability for use in thinner sections. 30% cold rolled and solution treated sample reveals attractive combination of strength and ductility (25·22 GPa%). The examination of fracture surface also substantiates the tensile results. The sub-surface micrographs provide the potential sites for initiation of microvoids.