Slurry erosion of thermo-mechanically processed 13Cr4Ni stainless steel

Slurry erosion resistance of 13Cr4Ni stainless steel is studied after thermo-mechanical processing. Thermo-mechanical processing was performed using thermo-mechanical simulator Gleeble® 3800. Deformation strain rates of 0.001 and 10 s−1 were used at 950 °C and 1050 °C. Refined prior austenite grain size and lath packets of martensite obtained after thermo-mechanical processing were studied using optical micrographs. The thermo-mechanically processed specimens showed higher slurry erosion resistance as compared to the as-received stainless steel. Specimen thermo-mechanically processed at 950 °C using a strain rate of 0.001 s−1 showed the best resistance to slurry erosion. The mechanism of erosion is discussed by correlating with microstructure and mechanical properties. Refined prior austenite grain size and martensite lath packets resulting from the thermo-mechanical processing are responsible for the enhanced slurry erosion resistance of the processed specimens.