Production- and microstructure-based fatigue assessment of metallic AISI 304/430 multilayer materials produced by hot pack rolling

Abstract

Abstract Metallic multilayer materials consisting of hundreds or thousands of layers offer a high potential for broad applications in modern technology. A uniform and gradual thinning of layers can be realized by using alloys with different crystal structures in combination with the efficient and high-performance technology of hot pack rolling. However, investigations on fatigue properties, especially to evaluate the influence of the number of layers, are still missing. In the present study, the fatigue behavior of metallic multilayer materials consisting of austenitic and ferritic stainless steels AISI 304 and AISI 430 with 100 and 1400 layers are characterized by applying a time-efficient load increase procedure. Therefore, instrumented stepwise load increase tests were performed to define suitable loading parameters for a convenient comparison of fatigue properties in constant amplitude tests. A benefit of the complex production process leading to 1400 layers was verified concerning the investigated load level in the range of low cycle fatigue with a significant improvement by the factor of 3.5. The alternating current potential drop method for measurements of change in voltage was determined to be most suitable to detect microstructural changes at an early state of fatigue damage for multilayer materials. Microstructures as well as fractured surfaces were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the results of the two technological manufacturing routes as well as the crack and failure behavior.