In Situ Study of Precipitates’ Effect on Grain Deformation Behavior and Mechanical Properties of S31254 Super Austenitic Stainless Steel

Grain boundary (GB) precipitation-induced cracking is a significant issue for S31254 super austenitic stainless steel during hot working. Investigating the deformation behavior based on precipitate morphology and distribution is essential. In this study, continuous smaller and intermittent larger precipitates were obtained through heat treatments at 950 °C and 1050 °C. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties influenced by precipitates were experimentally investigated using an in situ tensile stage inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that continuous precipitates at 950 °C had a stronger pinning effect on the GB, making grain rotation difficult and promoting slip deformation in the plastic interval. Continuous precipitates caused severe stress concentration near GB and reduced coordinated deformation ability. Additionally, the crack propagation path changed from transcrystalline to intercrystalline. Furthermore, internal precipitates were a crucial factor affecting the initial crack nucleation position. Interconnected precipitates led to an intergranular fracture tendency and severe deterioration of the material’s plasticity, as observed in fracture morphology.