Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights

At cryogenic temperatures, 316L austenitic stainless steel (ASS) exhibits remarkable strength while retaining high ductility, defying the conventional stress-strain trade-off. Despite extensive studies documenting the cryo-tensile properties of ASSs, the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon...

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Main Authors: Digvijay Singh, Fumiyoshi Yoshinaka, Susumu Takamori, Satoshi Emura, Takahiro Sawaguchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785424020799
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author Digvijay Singh
Fumiyoshi Yoshinaka
Susumu Takamori
Satoshi Emura
Takahiro Sawaguchi
author_facet Digvijay Singh
Fumiyoshi Yoshinaka
Susumu Takamori
Satoshi Emura
Takahiro Sawaguchi
author_sort Digvijay Singh
collection DOAJ
description At cryogenic temperatures, 316L austenitic stainless steel (ASS) exhibits remarkable strength while retaining high ductility, defying the conventional stress-strain trade-off. Despite extensive studies documenting the cryo-tensile properties of ASSs, the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain largely unexplored. This study systematically re-examines the tensile properties of 316L stainless steel and the associated mechanisms across a range of low temperatures (293 K, 223 K, 123 K, and 77 K). The reasons for the superior stress-strain balance (∼80 % GPa) are discussed using results from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) microstructure characteristics. The results undoubtedly suggest that the transformation mechanisms, specifically the shift from deformation twinning to martensitic transformation (γ → ε → α′), play a crucial role in enhancing elongation at cryogenic temperatures. At these temperatures, the Gibbs free energy difference between ε-martensite and γ-austenite approaches zero, resulting in slow martensite growth. The stress-strain curves at low temperatures satisfy the Considère criterion, indicating delayed necking under these conditions. This behavior is ascribed to the presence of various hierarchical microstructures, including ε, α′, γ-twins, ε-twins and their intersections, which act as sources of work hardening. This study provides new insights into deformation behavior of ASSs under cryogenic conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-2b624523f75c41338e0b8dce62e0f5b02025-08-20T02:38:59ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542024-11-013360061110.1016/j.jmrt.2024.09.074Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insightsDigvijay Singh0Fumiyoshi Yoshinaka1Susumu Takamori2Satoshi Emura3Takahiro Sawaguchi4National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, JapanNational Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, JapanNational Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, JapanNational Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, JapanCorresponding author.; National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, JapanAt cryogenic temperatures, 316L austenitic stainless steel (ASS) exhibits remarkable strength while retaining high ductility, defying the conventional stress-strain trade-off. Despite extensive studies documenting the cryo-tensile properties of ASSs, the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain largely unexplored. This study systematically re-examines the tensile properties of 316L stainless steel and the associated mechanisms across a range of low temperatures (293 K, 223 K, 123 K, and 77 K). The reasons for the superior stress-strain balance (∼80 % GPa) are discussed using results from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) microstructure characteristics. The results undoubtedly suggest that the transformation mechanisms, specifically the shift from deformation twinning to martensitic transformation (γ → ε → α′), play a crucial role in enhancing elongation at cryogenic temperatures. At these temperatures, the Gibbs free energy difference between ε-martensite and γ-austenite approaches zero, resulting in slow martensite growth. The stress-strain curves at low temperatures satisfy the Considère criterion, indicating delayed necking under these conditions. This behavior is ascribed to the presence of various hierarchical microstructures, including ε, α′, γ-twins, ε-twins and their intersections, which act as sources of work hardening. This study provides new insights into deformation behavior of ASSs under cryogenic conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785424020799Strength-ductility balanceAustenitic stainless steelMartensitic transformationDeformation twinningStrain-hardening rate
spellingShingle Digvijay Singh
Fumiyoshi Yoshinaka
Susumu Takamori
Satoshi Emura
Takahiro Sawaguchi
Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Strength-ductility balance
Austenitic stainless steel
Martensitic transformation
Deformation twinning
Strain-hardening rate
title Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
title_full Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
title_fullStr Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
title_full_unstemmed Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
title_short Breaking the strength-ductility trade-off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures: Mechanistic insights
title_sort breaking the strength ductility trade off in austenitic stainless steel at cryogenic temperatures mechanistic insights
topic Strength-ductility balance
Austenitic stainless steel
Martensitic transformation
Deformation twinning
Strain-hardening rate
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785424020799
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