One-step and iterative thermo-mechanical treatments to enhance Σ3 ⁿ boundaries in a Ti-modified austenitic stainless steel

The article discusses the results of a study on low-strain thermo-mechanical (one-step and iterative) processing to enhance Σ3 ⁿ boundaries in a Ti-modified austenitic stainless steel (alloy D9). Solution annealed (SA) specimens were subjected to 10% thickness reduction by rolling followed by annealing at 1173, 1223, and 1273 K for 0.5, 1, and 2 h. Anomalous grain growth with moderate increase in Σ3 ⁿ boundaries was observed after annealing at 1,173 K for 0.5 to 2 h. Prolific multiple twinning with minimum deviation of Σ3 and Σ9 boundaries from ideal orientation was achieved after annealing at 1,273 K for 0.5 to 2 h. A significant disruption in random boundary connectivity was obtained in these conditions due to the presence of large number of Σ3-Σ3-Σ9/Σ3-Σ9-Σ27 triple junctions. Iterative processing (up to 4 cycles) employing 10% thickness reduction followed by annealing at 1,273 K for 0.5 h revealed fluctuations in the evolution of Σ3 boundaries. The Σ3 fraction increased after 2nd and 4th iteration and there is a drop after 3rd iteration. This was attributed to the increased driving force for grain boundary migration due to dislocation pile-up at twin boundaries during earlier iterations. A two step iterative processing comprising of 10% deformation followed by annealing at 1,273 K for 0.5 h is the recommended thermo-mechanical processing to achieve enhanced fraction of Σ3 ⁿ boundaries (~73%) in alloy D9.