Effect of stress on transformation plasticity and texture in a tool steel

Tubular samples of tool steel have been austenitized and transformed to bainite and martensite during controlled cooling cycles while under constant torsional loads of various magnitudes. Transformation plasticity was observed and measured during both bainite and martensite formation. Although the transformation strain is associated with the selection of crystallographic variants with specific orientations, no presence of texture was evident in the product phase. This is considered to be due to the virtually random condition of the parent austenite texture in the present material.