Hot Deformation and Dynamic Recrystallization of 17-4 PH Stainless Steel

The hot deformation behavior of a 17-4 PH stainless steel was investigated by compression tests. The typical single-peak dynamic recrystalization (DRX) behavior and also a transition state between single and multiple peak (cyclic) behaviors were seen in the resultant flow curves. The application of constitutive equations for determination of hot working constants was critically discussed. As a result, the deformation activation energy and the stress multiplier in the hyperbolic sine equation were determined as 337 kJ/mol and 0.011, respectively. The Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) exponents for peak stress and peak strain based on the power relationships were determined as 0.18 and 0.11, respectively. The normalized critical stress and strain for initiation of DRX were respectively found to be 0.89 and 0.47. The prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGB) were revealed by electrolytic etching of the martensite in order to study the microstructure of hot deformed samples. Significant grain refinement occurred as a result of necklace DRX mechanism. The average dynamically recrystallized grain size was related to Z and peak stress by power equations with exponents of -0.25 and -1.24, respectively. A DRX map was developed to show the effect of deformation conditions on the occurrence of DRX and on the final grain size.