Comparison of rolling texture in low and medium stacking fault energy austenitic stainless steels

Cold rolling texture in AISI 304L and 316L austenitic stainless steels (SS) having low and medium stacking fault energy (SFE), respectively, has been studied. Though at small deformation, both the steels show similar texture, at higher deformation levels, the behaviour on transition from copper to brass-type textures expected in face centered cubic (fcc) structures was different in the two steels. 304L SS showed a sluggish transition compared to 316L SS. This is explained to be due to the effect of the strain-induced alpha'-martensite formation during the cold rolling of 304L SS, and is confirmed by varying the volume fraction of alpha'-martensite phase at the same deformation levels by controlled rolling conditions. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.