The super-duplex stainless steel UNS S32750 consists of two main phases, austenite and ferrite, which differ not only by their morphology, physical, and mechanical properties, but also by their deformation behaviour. A heterogenous deformation can be obtained during thermomechanical processing, generating internal stresses and sometimes fissures or cracks on sample lateral surfaces, due to ferrite’s phase lower potential of plastic deformation accommodation in comparison with austenite phase. The research objective is to determine the optimum range of the applied deformation degree, during hot deformation processing by upsetting of the super-duplex steel (SDSS) UNS S32750. In the experimental program several samples were hot deformed by upsetting, by applying a deformation degree between 5–50%, at 1050 °C and 1300 °C. The most representative hot-deformed samples were selected and analysed by scanning electron microscope-Electron Backscatter Diffraction (SEM-EBSD), to determine the main microstructural characteristics obtained during thermomechanical processing. When considering the experimental results, the influence of the applied deformation degree on the microstructure has been evaluated. Microstructural features, such as nature, distribution, morphology and relative proportion of constituent phases, Grain Reference Orientation Deviation (GROD), and recrystallization (RX), were analysed, in correlation with the applied deformation degree. Finally, it was concluded that the UNS S32750 alloy can be safely hot deformed, by upsetting, at 1050 °C and 1300 °C, with a maximum applied deformation degree of 20% at 1050 °C and, respectively, by 50% at 1300 °C.
Evaluation of Hot Deformation Behaviour of UNS S32750 Super Duplex Stainless Steel (SDSS) Alloy
