Evaluation of the effect of plastic deformation on the microstructure, hardness and magnetic properties of AISI type 316L stainless steel

AISI 316L steel is widely used as a low cost biomaterial in prostheses and surgical equipment, among other applications. These applications are due to their good corrosion resistance in the presence of environment containing body fluids. Although this steel has the mentioned characteristics, it may be compromised with the formation of alpha prime martensite (magnetic phase) induced by plastic deformation. In this case, the present work aimed to investigate the cold rolling effects on the martensitic phase formation. For that, three different deformations were performed. The plate as received and the deformed samples were subjected to ferritoscopy, Vickers microhardness and microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy, SEM. It was observed that in cold deformed samples there was the magnetic phase appearance (probably alpha prime martensite) and microhardness increase, due to the hardening and the deformation induced phases presence.