Microstructural evolution in deformed duplex stainless steels

The present research is part of a project concerning texture and microstructure evolution upon deformation and annealing in a series of various duplex stainless steels. This article shows a comparison of deformation behavior in two grades of duplex steels subjected to cold-rolling over a wide range of reductions. Both steels under examination showed clear differences in chemical composition and their preliminary treatment included different processes of hot plastic working. Optical microscopy was used to examine changes in morphology and formation of a ferrite-austenite band-like structure upon cold-rolling. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to analyze microstructural evolution and deformation behavior within the ferrite and austenite bands. Additional research included texture measurements for both component phases. Special attention was paid to the ferrite-austenite co-deformation and the structural effects resulting from strain localization at high rolling reductions.