Evaluation of the metallurgical parameters effect on tensile properties in austenitic stainless steels

Even if relations predicting the mechanical properties on bars of austenitic stainless steels are already available, but no systematic works was carried out in order to predict mechanical properties in after cold rolling and annealing. The tensile properties of a large number of cold rolled and annealed AISI 304 stainless steel are here correlated with their chemical composition and microstructure. Quantitative effects of various strengthening mechanisms such as grain size, δ– ferrite content and solid solution strengthening by both interstitial and substitutional solutes are described. Interstitial solutes have by far the greatest strengthening effect and, among the substitutional solutes, the ferrite – stabilising elements have a greater effect than the austenite – stabilising elements. Regression equations are developed which predict with good accuracy the proof stress and tensile strength in AISI 304 stainless steels.