Change in grain size and flow strength in P/M Rene 95 under isothermal forging conditions

The changes in microstructure induced by plastic deformation in hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) P/M Rene 95 under isothermal conditions are discussed. Results of the constant true strain rate compression tests are presented for initially fine (7 mu m) and coarse (50 mu m) grained compacts deformed at temperatures of 1050 degrees C, 1075 degrees C and 1100 degrees C and at strain rates in the range from 10(-4) s(-1) to 1 s(-1). Under these test conditions, both the fine and coarse-grained compacts recrystallize and their grain size are refined during flow. This grain refinement gives rise to softening in both materials. Ultimately, their microstructures transform into the same equiaxed fine-grained microduplex structure at which point their flow strength becomes identical. Continued deformation at that point produces no further change in grain size or flow strength. Under this steady state regime of deformation, the microduplex grain size and flow strength are independent of the original microstructure but are conditioned by the strain rate at a given temperature. The steady state grain size increases whereas the steady flow strength decreases with a decrease in strain rate and/or an increase in temperature. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.