Cryorolling impacts on microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 316 LN austenitic stainless steel

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of AISI 316 LN austenitic stainless steel (SS) after cryorolling with different strains were investigated by means of optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, microhardness tester, and tensile testing system. The deformation-induced martensite transition and the deformation microstructure occurred during cryorolling process were always composed of high-density dislocations, deformation twins, and deformation-induced martensites. Following the strain, the dislocation density in deformation microstructure approached saturation state and the volume fraction of deformation twins combined with deformation-induced martensites increased significantly. At the 70% strain, original austenite was transformed into martensite completely. Further increasing the strain to 90% would refine the martensitic lamellae to nanoscale. The deformation degree also led to remarkable increase of the strength and hardness of the cryorolled SS, and drastic reductions of the elongation. Due to the cryorolling, the tensile fracture morphology changed from typical ductile rupture to a mixture of quasi-cleavage and ductile fracture.