Transitional Behavior for Dynamic Recrystallization in Nuclear Grade 316H Stainless Steel during Hot Deformation

The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors and their transformation process during hot deformation with various Zener–Hollomon (Z) values were investigated in nuclear grade 316H stainless steel, and the factors influencing DRX transformation, especially adiabatic heating, were evaluated in depth. During hot deformation, with the increase of the Z value, the degree of flow softening (DFS) showed a tendency to decrease first and then increase gradually. The analysis of the microstructure revealed that at low Z value (not exceeding 3.9 × 1019 s–1) deformation conditions, DRX was massively activated and the recrystallization mechanism had a transition from continuous DRX (CDRX) to discontinuous DRX (DDRX) with the increasing Z values, leading to the transition of homogeneous grains to heterogeneous grains. Furthermore, with the reactivation of DRX at high Z value deformation conditions, the discontinuous DRX becomes the primary recrystallization mode. Adiabatic heating plays an important role in facilitating the reactivation of DRX and flow softening during hot deformation with low temperature or high strain rate (high Z values, above 6.1 × 1021 s–1).