Strain partitioning and texture evolution during cold rolling of AISI 201 austenitic stainless steel

Strain partitioning and texture evolution of AISI 201 austenitic stainless steel were investigated upon cold rolling up to a true strain of ε = 0.92. ε-martensite formation is the main work hardening mechanism at low strains (ε = 0.11). With increasing strain, the volume fraction of α'-martensite increases with a sigmoidal-like behavior. Remaining untransformed austenite is intensely fragmented by mechanical microtwins. The in-grain misorientation increases for all phases up ε = 0.51 and then levels off for further strain. Strain partitions evenly between austenite and α'-martensite during cold rolling. X-ray texture measurements revealed that austenite develops Goss, Brass and S texture components up to the largest investigated strain. The presence of Brass component at the highest deformation seems to be assisted by mechanical twinning. The texture components of α'-martensite belong to the α- and γ- fibers. Texture evolution of ε-martensite was followed by electron backscatter diffraction data and results show that texture evolves up to ε = 0.51 and remains nearly unchanged at larger strains, similarly as observed for austenite and α'-martensite.