Investigation of the strength retention of a warm-rolled austenitic stainless-steel through hot-hardness measurements

Abstract

AISI type 316 austenitic stainless-steel plates were strengthened by warm rolling to different strain levels in the temperature range 823-1123 K. Samples from the plates were hardness tested at various temperatures up to 923 K. Hardness values have been correlated to yield- and ultimate tensile-strength using results of tensile tests carried out at 300 and 923 K. The results of the hot-hardness tests and correlations are discussed in terms of the retention of strength achieved by warm rolling in comparison to annealed material. It is seen that strengthening achieved through warm rolling is retained up to 0.5 T_m where T_m is the melting temperature of the material.