Theinfluence of carbon on the work hardening, formation and reversion of deformation induced martensite and on the recrysta[lization of two austenitic stainless steels 1 8•/•Cr-8"/.Ni type were studied with the help of different microstructural analysis techniques. Two steels were seiected: the first an AIS[ 304L with low carbon ('1•C=0.021 ) content and the second an AISI 304 with higher carbon ("/.C=0.065) content. Both steels were heat treated to obtain two different initial conditions: one

more »

... ith the carbon completely in solid solution (after a solution annealing treatment at 1 100'C) and the other with practically all the carbon in the precipitated form, as (Cr, Fe)23C6 (after a precipitation treatment at 750'C). The material having higher carbon content, both in solid solution and precipitated, presented in both cases higher strain hardening, smaller tendency to form strain induced martensite and higher resistance to recrystallization. Carbon in solid solution, as comparedto the precipitated condition, Ied to a material with a higher tendency to strain hardening, Iess susceptibility to martensite formation and more resistance to recrystallization. Nucleation of recrystallization preferably occurred in the vicinity of grain boundaries. Based on the results of the kinetics of recrystal lization and i ntergranular corrosion tests it was concluded that the usual ly recommended anneal ing temperatures (1 OOO to 11 20'C) are sometimes unnecessarily high.