Precipitation-hardening stainless steels with a shape-memory effect

Abstract

The possibility of obtaining the shape-memory effect as a result of the γ → ε → γ transformations in aging stainless steels strengthened by VC carbides has been investigated. Regimes are given for strengthening aging (at 650 and 720°C) for stainless steels that predominantly contain (in wt %) 0.06–0.45C, 1–2V, 2–5Si, 9 and 13–14Cr. The values of reversible deformation e (amount of shape-memory effect) determined after heating to 400°C in samples preliminarily deformed to 3.5–4% vary from 0.15 to 2.7%, depending on the composition of the steels and regimes of stabilizing and destabilizing aging.