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Analysing Microstructure and Hardness of SS-304 Under Annealed, Normalized, Quenched and Step Cooled Conditions

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Abstract

SS-304 is austenitic stainless steel that possesses γ-austenite, δ-ferrite, and different carbides at room temperature. The properties of austenitic steel can be varied by cold forming because it is hardly responsive to thermal treatment. To critically analyze the microstructural attributes of SS-304, the present work deals with seven different heat treatment techniques. The properties of heat-treated samples were analyzed based on the properties of the untreated or ‘original’ sample. The samples were heated at 900 °C for 1 h and then cooled at seven different media, namely, Water, Oil, Air, Sand, Brine, Air + water, and Air + oil. The microstructural analysis was carried out by using light optical microscopy (LOM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM-back scattered detectors), elemental map**, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also, the micro-hardness of all the samples was tested. The purpose of this work is to check the effect of heat treatment on the microstructural appearance of the SS-304. Based on that, the hardness and corrosive degradation of the steel samples were also analyzed. LOM images showed a negligible difference among the samples while the FESEM images were capable to show the formation of M23C6 at the γ-δ interface. In addition, another phase-σ was recognized in the view of previous literature. A little amount of pitting was noticed in the γ-phase of Brine and Water quenched samples. The elemental map** showed a slight variation in Wt% of Cr in some of the heat-treated samples. As a result of water quenching and Air + water stepped cooling, the hardness of the samples got increased by 7.4% and 5.6% respectively.

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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India

    Saurabh Dewangan & Shrey Mishra

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  1. Saurabh Dewangan
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Both authors contributed to the study, conception, and design. All the experimental works were performed by SM. The result analysis and manuscript preparation were done by SD. Both authors have read and approved the manuscript before the submission.

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Correspondence to Saurabh Dewangan.

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Dewangan, S., Mishra, S. Analysing Microstructure and Hardness of SS-304 Under Annealed, Normalized, Quenched and Step Cooled Conditions. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40033-023-00527-1

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