Crack Properties of Lean Duplex Stainless Steel 2101 in Hot Forming Processes

The crack behavior of LDX 2101 by hot compression tests in the temperature range of 950 to 1150 °C and strain rate range of 0.01 to 30 s−1 was studied. The hot workability map of LDX 2101 was constructed and the alloy exhibited a better crack resistance at higher temperature and lower strain rate. Microvoids initiated and coalesced into crack at subsurface on the equatorial plane of bulge surface under secondary tensile condition. The cracks were orientated at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the compression axis due to the secondary tensile stress. Microcracks easily initiated on the interface of ferrite and austenite and propagated within ferrite. The predicted results using specific plastic work approach were matched well with the free surface cracks.