Evaluation of Tensile Properties of Thermally Aged 316LN stainless steel with Varying Nitrogen Content using ABI Technique

Abstract Type 316LN stainless steel (SS) with varying nitrogen content (0.07, 0.14 and 0.22 wt.%) was thermally aged at 873 K and 923 K for 20,000 h. The microstructures of thermally aged steels revealed secondary phases such as M23C6 carbides and Fe-Cr-Mo intermetallics at all the nitrogen contents and Cr2N nitrides additionally at 0.14 and 0.22 wt.% N. The amount of precipitates increased with increase in nitrogen content and aging temperature. The effect of thermal aging on the tensile properties of 316LN SS was evaluated using automated ball indentation (ABI) technique at 298 K. The flow curves of the steels aged at 873 K were lower than those obtained under unaged condition. Whereas due to ageing at 923 K, the flow stress response gradually increased above the unaged condition with increasing nitrogen content. The ultimate tensile strength varied similarly at 873 K aging condition for all nitrogen levels and was observed to recuperate upon aging at 923 K, except for 0.07 wt.% N. Yield strength was not strongly affected by thermal ageing, except the considerable increase in 316LN SS with 0.22 wt.% N aged at 923 K. The addition of nitrogen generally imparted interstitial solid solution strengthening to 316LN SS. The higher the nitrogen content and ageing temperature, the higher is the precipitation strengthening due to ageing, which was reflected in the tensile behavior. Transmission electron microscopy examination of ABI deformed zone revealed dislocation-precipitate interactions, precipitate-shear band interaction and pile-up of dislocations at precipitates, influencing the tensile properties.