Effect of Intercritical Annealing on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 0.1C-13Cr-3Ni Martensitic Stainless Steel

Standard heat treatment of martensitic stainless steel consists quenching and tempering. However, this results in high strength hardness, while Charpy impact toughness shows lower values a large deviation its values. Therefore, modified 0.1C-13Cr-3Ni (PK993/1CH13N3) with intercritical annealing between Ac1 Ac3 was introduced before tempering to study effect on the microstructure mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile hardness toughness). The temperatures were 740, 760, 780 800 °C. ThermoCalc used for thermodynamic calculations. Microstructure characterization performed an optical scanning electron microscope, XRD determination retained austenite. Results show that improves lowers This can be attributed dissolution thin carbide film along prior austenite grain boundaries prevention re-occurrence during On other hand, carbon concentration martensite from region resulted hardness. Intercritical refines creating lamellar morphology.