Characterization of the High Temperature Strain Partitioning in Duplex Steels

A microgrid technique has been developed for the analysis of the high-temperature micro-scale strain distribution between ferrite and austenite into duplex stainless steels. The local strain is measured by micro-extensometry using square microgrids engraved on flat specimens by electro-lithography. The sample with microgrids on the surface and preliminary imaged with high definition scanning electron microscope (SEM), is inserted in a plane strain compression specimen to be deformed under conditions representative of hot rolling. After deformation, the sample is extracted from the compressed block and the surface is again analyzed by SEM and image processing to determine the strain field. The strain is heterogeneously distributed with a strong localization of the deformation, in the form of shear bands located within the ferrite and at the vicinity of the austenite/ferrite interphase boundaries. These strain maps provide useful informations about the rheology of the phases as well as about the local conditions at the origin of the damage process.