Deformation Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of an Austenitic Stainless Steel Subjected to Warm Rolling

The deformation microstructures and mechanical properties of an austenitic stainless steel subjected to warm plate rolling were studied. The warm rolling was carried out at 300°C to different total true strains of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3. The structural changes during warm rolling were characterized by the elongation of original grains towards the rolling direction and the development of spatial network of strain-induced high-angle boundaries leading to the evolution of ultrafine-grained microstructure at sufficiently large strains. The grain refinement was assisted by the development of deformation twinning. After straining to 3, the transverse grain size decreased down to 220 nm in the warm rolled samples. The warm plate rolling resulted in significant strengthening. The microhardness increased from 2910 MPa to 4192 MPa with increase in the total strain from 0.5 to 3. Correspondingly, the yield strength approached 1005 MPa after warm rolling to a total strain of 3.