Hot Deformation Behavior of a New Nuclear Use Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steel

The hot deformation behavior and workability of a new reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel named SIMP steel for accelerator-driven system were studied. The flow curve and its microstructure were studied at 900–1200 °C and strain rate range of 0.001–10 s−1. The results showed that the deformation behavior of the SIMP steel during hot compression could be manifested by the Zener–Hollomon parameter in an exponent-type equation. Based on the obtained constitutive equation, the calculated flow stresses were in agreement with the experimentally measured ones, and the average activity energies QDRV and QHW for the initiation of dynamic recrystallization and the peak strain were calculated to be 476.1 kJ/mol and 462.7 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, based on the processing maps and microstructure evolution, the optimum processing condition for the SIMP steel was determined to be 1050–1200 °C/0.001–0.1 s−1.