Formation of the Strength Characteristics of the Pipes Made of Commercial Austenitic Stainless Steels at Room and Elevated Temperatures

Abstract—The microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical properties in the temperature range 20–650°C of the pipes made of austenitic chromium–nickel Fe–18Cr–10Ni steels are estimated in the framework of the studies on developing a new standard for welded and seamless pipes made of stainless steel. The mechanical characteristics are shown to have a substantially scatter, and the contributions of various hardening factors are estimated quantitatively. The grain size and solid-solution hardening with carbon, nitrogen, or titanium was found to influence the mechanical properties most significantly, providing up to 45% of the yield strength of steel. The temperature dependence of the ultimate strength is found to be determined by the stability to the formation of strain-induced martensite and the dynamic strain aging intensity.