Thermally Activated Deformation of a High-Nitrogen Grade 316LN Stainless Steel under Compressive Loading

Abstract

In this paper, the deformation behaviour of a high-nitrogen grade 316LN stainless steel (with 0.14%N) has been studied over a wide range of temperatures (1123-1423K) and strain rates (0.001-10 s-1). The key deformation controlling mechanisms have been investigated using thermal activation parameters, such as activation volume and activation enthalpy. The chromium nitride precipitates, dislocation intersections, both conservative and recovery, are found to be the key deformation controlling mechanism at different temperature–strain-rate domain during hot deformation of this material.