Influence of Solution Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Hot-Rolled 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel

In this present work, the influence of solution heat treatment on microstructure, mechanical and wear properties of a hot-rolled 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) was investigated. The DSS samples were subjected to solution heat treatment at different temperature of 1000, 1040, 1080 and 1150 degrees C, held for 30 min and quenched in water. The microstructure and phase evolution of the as-received and solution heat-treated samples were analyzed using the optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and x-ray diffraction. Tensile and wear properties were also studied. The result shows that the DSS has characteristic lamellae microstructure consisting of alternating bands of ferrite (delta) and elongated austenite (gamma) with intermetallic precipitates nucleated around the ferrite region. The as-received samples have a higher hardness, tensile strength, yield strength and exhibit a high wear resistance compared to the solution heat-treated samples. The worn surface morphology revealed a mixed-mode of adhesive and abrasive wear mechanisms.