Modeling of the lattice rotations induced by plasma nitriding of 316L polycrystalline stainless steel

The anisotropic lattice rotation of individual grains induced by plasma nitriding of 316L austenitic stainless steel has been analyzed with the aim of identifying correlations between the initial grain's orientation and the rotation behavior. Due to the quite large nitriding-induced strains (up to 20%), the Taylor-Bishop-Hill model has been chosen for the simulation of the lattice rotations. The model predicts the overall rotations, both amplitude and direction, reasonably well over the entire stereographic triangle. The magnitude of the rotations is in agreement with the level of deformation induced by insertion of nitrogen atoms into an austenitic lattice. With regard to plasticity, parallels between the nitriding process and tensile elongation along the normal surface can be drawn.