Cracking initiation mechanism of 316LN stainless steel in the process of the hot deformation

In this study, tensile testing of samples made of 316LN stainless steel was carried out at 1100 °C by using a Gleeble-1500D testing machine. By analyzing the effects of strain on the fracture behavior of 316LN samples in terms of the microstructural development of the heat-affected zone during the stretching process, it can be concluded that the formation of cracks in 316LN includes the nucleation, growth, and aggregation of microscopic cavities during the stretching process under high temperature. It was determined that the formation of cracks was accompanied by recrystallization. The higher the strain, the greater the recrystallization and the easier it is to crack the sample. It was also found that stress triaxiality plays an important role in the prediction of the destruction of the material.