Effects of aging on the microstructure of 17-4 PH stainless steel

Abstract

Microstructures developed in commercial 17-4 PH precipitation-hardened stainless steel after different heat treatments have been studied. The martensite formed in this alloy has been found to be of a lath morphology having a dislocated substructure. Transmission electron microscopy studies have revealed the formation of a copper-rich phase in the samples aged at temperatures below 550°C. However, at higher temperatures, in addition to the formation of these precipitates, austenite phase reversion has been noticed, primarily at the lath boundaries. The reversion process has been found to be accompanied by a sharp decrease in the hardness of the alloy. The morphologies of the transformation products and the crystallography of the transformation have been discussed.