Flow Behavior of 430 Ferritic Stainless Steel at Elevated Temperatures

The tensile test of casting ferritic stainless steel was conducted on SHIMADZU AG-10 at different temperatures of 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 950°C, respectively. The engineering stress-strain curves with the thermal deformation at the different temperatures, the tensile strength and elongation curves were obtained. Metallographic test samples were prepared and the morphology of deforming zone was observed by optical microscopy. The experimental results showed that the tensile strength of the test samples decreased with increasing temperature. From 300 to 500°C, the work hardening occurred and the tensile strength increased with increasing engineering strain. The softening occurred and the tensile strength decreased with increasing engineering strain at temperatures from 600 to 950°C. The strength of 430 stainless steel decreased, and the plasticity increased with the increase in temperature. The fractures were basically intergranular fractures within the range of 300~950°C. A transition occurred to the form of fracture from the ductile to the brittle, which might be related to the nitrogen atom in the 430. Grain deformation along specimen tensile direction concentrated in the necking region, where appeared banded structure in martensite. The organization at the edge of the sample was fine, while the organization at the central region was coarser.