Effect of two-step cold rolling and annealing on texture, grain boundary character distribution and r-value of Nb plus Ti stabilized ferritic stainless steel

In order to improve the r-value of ferritic stainless steel, the Nb + Ti stabilized ferritic stainless steel is subjected to two-step cold rolling and annealing treatment. The results show that two-step cold rolling and annealing could improve the uniformity of grain size and increase the fraction of low-angel grain boundaries and coincidence site lattice boundaries, especially Sigma 3 and Sigma 13b. The uniform and high density texture of the two-step specimens is associated with the uniform grain size distribution, low-angel grain boundaries and coincidence site lattice boundaries, which will lead to the increase of the average r-value. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.