Correlation between the granular structure and the mechanical properties of high-nitrogen austenitic 02Kh20AG10N4MFB steel after annealing

Abstract

The effect of the annealing temperature and time on the formation of a granular structure in high-nitrogen austenitic 02Kh20AG10N4MFB steel has been studied. The hardness and the strength properties of the steel are shown to be related to the mean grain size by an inverse dependence, according to the Hall–Petch relation, and the impact toughness is proportional to the mean grain size. At annealing temperatures to 1100°C, structure formation is determined by the precipitation of secondary phases; at higher annealing temperatures, it is determined by the recrystallization of austenite grains.