Stainless steels have widespread applications due to their good corrosion resistance, but for certain types of large naval constructions, other requirements are imposed such as high strength and toughness , and modified magnetic characteristics.The magnetic characteristics of a 302 type metastable austenitic stainless steel has been assessed after various cold rolling treatments designed to increase strength by strain inducement of martensite. A grade 817M40 low alloy medium carbon steel was used as a reference material.The metastable austenitic stainless steel after solution treatment possesses a fully austenitic microstructure. However its tensile strength , in the solution treated condition , is low.Cold rolling results in the strain induced transformation to α’- martensite in austenitic matrix and enhances the tensile strength. However , α’-martensite is ferromagnetic , and its introduction to an otherwise fully paramagnetic matrix alters the magnetic response of the material. An example of the mixed martensitic-retained austenitic microstructure obtained after the cold rolling experiment is provided in the SEM micrograph of Figure 1.
In Situ TEM Observation on Martensitic Transformation during Tensile Deformation of SUS304 Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steel