The effect of non-metallic inclusion size and orientation on tensile properties of stainless steel (simulation and experiment)

Abstract

In this study, the effect of non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) on tensile behavior of titanium stabilized Fe-20Cr-9Ni steel was investigated. The size of NMIs was decreased via the electro-slag remelting (ESR) process. JK-inclusion rating method revealed that the studied steel consisted of D-type (square-shaped) inclusions. According to energy dispersive spectroscopy, it was determined that the appeared inclusions in the matrix of the titanium stabilized Fe-20Cr-9Ni steel is predominantly titanium nitride (TiN). As a result of the ESR process, excellent improvement in the tensile properties of the studied steel was observed. Subsequently, the effect of inclusion size (d = 5, 10, 25, 50 µm) and orientation (α = 0, 45°) on stress concentration factor around the non-metallic inclusion and metallic matrix was simulated. The result of finite element analysis indicated that, for both square (α = 0 °) and rhombus (α = 45°) shape inclusions, increasing inclusion size has resulted in high-stress concentration factor during plastic deformation. On the other hands, generated Mises stress field around the non-metallic inclusion presented that, for the same inclusion size, rhombus (α = 45°) shape inclusion is more susceptible to homogenous deformation in comparison with square (α = 0°) one.