Characterization of the hot cracking resistance using the Essential Work of Fracture (EWF): application to duplex stainless steels

Duplex stainless steels (DSS) involve two ductile phases, i.e. ferrite and austenite, with a proportion of each phase around 50%. The main advantage in comparison with other austenitic and ferritic stainless steels is the excellent combination of high strength and corrosion resistance together with good formability and weldability. Unfortunately, DSS present in general a poor hot workability. Standard hot ductility tests like hot tensile or hot …