Dynamic Recrystallization and Precipitation in 13Cr Super-Martensitic Stainless Steels

The influence of precipitation on the kinetics of static and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was investigated in AISI 403 and 403Nb martensitic stainless steels. Hot compression tests were performed in the temperature range of 1073 K to 1473 K (800 °C to 1200 °C) and strain rates of 0.001 and 0.1 s⁻¹ to study DRX and precipitation behaviors. In parallel, stress relaxation tests were conducted with pre-strains of 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25, a strain rate of 0.1 s⁻¹, and in the 1073 K to 1473 K (800 °C to 1200 °C) temperature range to study the kinetics of precipitation and recrystallization. Samples of hot compression and stress relaxation tests were quenched and the evolution of the microstructure was examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that DRX interacts with dynamic precipitation (DP) over the temperature range of 1173 K to 1273 K (900 °C to 1000 °C). Hot compression testing results, confirmed by EBSD analysis, indicated that partial DRX occurs before precipitation in 403Nb, at 1073 K (800 °C). By contrast, no DRX was observed in 403 steel. At higher temperatures, i.e., over 1273 K (1000 °C), DRX preceded DP in both steels. Increasing the strain rate raised the temperature range of interaction between DRX and DP up to 1373 K (1100 °C). Strain-induced precipitation (SIP) was observed over the entire range of investigated test temperatures. Static recrystallization (SRX) took place predominantly in the temperature range of 1173 K to 1373 K (900 °C to 1100 °C), at which SIP significantly delayed the SRX finishing time. The results are analyzed in the framework of the classical nucleation theory and the underlying mechanisms are identified.