Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance
Martensite transformation and grain refinement can make austenitic stainless steel stronger, but this comes at a dramatic loss of both ductility and corrosion resistance. Here we report a novel gradient structure in 301 stainless steel sheets, which enables an unprecedented combination of high stren...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-09-01
|
| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/9/2356 |
| _version_ | 1797517847323213824 |
|---|---|
| author | Qiong He Wei Wei Ming-Sai Wang Feng-Jiao Guo Yu Zhai Yan-Fei Wang Chong-Xiang Huang |
| author_facet | Qiong He Wei Wei Ming-Sai Wang Feng-Jiao Guo Yu Zhai Yan-Fei Wang Chong-Xiang Huang |
| author_sort | Qiong He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Martensite transformation and grain refinement can make austenitic stainless steel stronger, but this comes at a dramatic loss of both ductility and corrosion resistance. Here we report a novel gradient structure in 301 stainless steel sheets, which enables an unprecedented combination of high strength, improved ductility and good corrosion resistance. After producing inter-layer microstructure gradient by surface mechanical attrition treatment, the sheet was annealed at high temperature for a short duration, during which partial reverse transformation occurred to form recrystallized austenitic nano-grains in the surface layer, i.e., introducing extra intra-layer heterogeneity. Such 3D microstructure heterogeneity activates inter-layer and inter-phase interactions during deformation, thereby producing back stress for high yield strength and hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening for high ductility. Importantly, the recrystallized austenitic nano-grains significantly ameliorates the corrosion resistance. These findings suggest an effective route for evading the strength–ductility and strength–corrosion tradeoffs in stainless steels simultaneously. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:21:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ef4ba026df4497cb19b6ba670c0d561 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:21:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ef4ba026df4497cb19b6ba670c0d5612023-11-22T14:31:15ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-09-01119235610.3390/nano11092356Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion ResistanceQiong He0Wei Wei1Ming-Sai Wang2Feng-Jiao Guo3Yu Zhai4Yan-Fei Wang5Chong-Xiang Huang6School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaDepartment of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaMartensite transformation and grain refinement can make austenitic stainless steel stronger, but this comes at a dramatic loss of both ductility and corrosion resistance. Here we report a novel gradient structure in 301 stainless steel sheets, which enables an unprecedented combination of high strength, improved ductility and good corrosion resistance. After producing inter-layer microstructure gradient by surface mechanical attrition treatment, the sheet was annealed at high temperature for a short duration, during which partial reverse transformation occurred to form recrystallized austenitic nano-grains in the surface layer, i.e., introducing extra intra-layer heterogeneity. Such 3D microstructure heterogeneity activates inter-layer and inter-phase interactions during deformation, thereby producing back stress for high yield strength and hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening for high ductility. Importantly, the recrystallized austenitic nano-grains significantly ameliorates the corrosion resistance. These findings suggest an effective route for evading the strength–ductility and strength–corrosion tradeoffs in stainless steels simultaneously.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/9/2356stainless steelheterostructurestrength and ductilitycorrosion resistancephase reversion |
| spellingShingle | Qiong He Wei Wei Ming-Sai Wang Feng-Jiao Guo Yu Zhai Yan-Fei Wang Chong-Xiang Huang Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance Nanomaterials stainless steel heterostructure strength and ductility corrosion resistance phase reversion |
| title | Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance |
| title_full | Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance |
| title_fullStr | Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance |
| title_short | Gradient Microstructure Design in Stainless Steel: A Strategy for Uniting Strength-Ductility Synergy and Corrosion Resistance |
| title_sort | gradient microstructure design in stainless steel a strategy for uniting strength ductility synergy and corrosion resistance |
| topic | stainless steel heterostructure strength and ductility corrosion resistance phase reversion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/9/2356 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qionghe gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT weiwei gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT mingsaiwang gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT fengjiaoguo gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT yuzhai gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT yanfeiwang gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance AT chongxianghuang gradientmicrostructuredesigninstainlesssteelastrategyforunitingstrengthductilitysynergyandcorrosionresistance |