Effect of external stress on the Fe–Cr phase separation in 15-5 PH and Fe–15Cr–5Ni alloys

The effect on Fe–Cr phase separation of a uniaxial stress during thermal ageing at 425 °C is investigated on a Fe–15Cr–5Ni steel, a model alloy of commercial 15-5 PH steel. The applied stress is shown to accelerate the ageing kinetics, and influence the morphology of Cr rich domains. A dependence of the phase separation decomposition kinetics on the relative orientations of the load and the crystal local orientation has also been observed.

► Fe–15Cr–5Ni and 15-5 PH steels thermally aged under external -stress at 425 °C. ► The applied stress accelerates the phase separation process. ► The acceleration rate depends on the respective orientations of the grain and the load direction.