Recrystallization Texture Evolution of Cold Rolled and Asymmetrically Warm Rolled Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheets

A {111} texture leads to good deep drawability but does not generally develop in face-centered cubic metals. One of the authors previously succeeded in {111} recrystallization texture evolution by cold rolling, asymmetric warm rolling and subsequent solution treatment for Al-Mg-Si alloy sheets. In this study, rolling and recrystallization textures of austenitic stainless steel with low stacking fault energy have been investigated to reveal whether the {111} texture can be formed by similar processing. Rolling texture changed from the a-fiber texture in 70% cold rolled sheets to an asymmetric texture on the TD axis consisting of {331}<116>-{111}<112> by additional 40% asymmetric warm rolling at 873 K. Correspondingly, pole density at the center of {111} pole figure increased from 2.16 to 3.18. In addition, microstructural observation showed that there were two kinds of shear bands inclined at about 30 degrees and 150 degrees to RD on the longitudinal section. One was micro shear bands within grains and the other was shear bands passing through a number of grains. Recrystallization texture after annealing also showed an asymmetric texture on the TD axis, but consisted of {431}<257>-{331}<116> near to {110}<112>-{110}<001>. The 1173 K-1800 s annealing decreased pole density at the center of {111} pole figure to 0.78. In conclusion, the rolling texture with near-{111}<112> orientation was obtained in cold rolled and asymmetrically warm rolled austenitic stainless steel sheets. The recrystallization texture, however, changed to near-{110}<112> orientation as a main component.