Solidification path and phase transformation in super-austenitic stainless steel UNS S31254

Abstract

Abstract The solidification path and the σ-phase precipitation mechanism of UNS S31254 alloy were studied on the basis of directional solidified experiments accompanied by scanning electron microscopy observations and energy dispersive X-ray a nalysis. The resulting temperatures of solidification paths and phase transformation were compared with Gulliver-Scheil and equilibrium calculations predicted using ThermoCalc© software. It was confirmed that the experimental solidification path was in agreement with the thermodynamic calculations. The complementarity of the results have made it possible to propose a solidification path and a σ-phase precipitation mechanism for the UNS31254 steel.