Influence of isothermal aging on σ precipitation in super duplex stainless steel

The time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curve of the 00Cr25Ni7Mo4N duplex stainless steel was obtained with a Formastor-digital thermal dilatometer, and the influence of isothermal aging on σ precipitation was studied by metallographic observation, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the decomposition of ferrite phase is accompanied by the formation of σ phase at 750–1000℃, especially in the range of 800–900℃. The longer the aging time, the higher the amount of σ precipitation. The area fraction of various phases remains at a certain value upon the completion of ferrite deformation. The temperature of 850℃ is the most sensitive transaction temperature, the incubation time for the formation of σ precipitation is less than 1 min, and aging for 20 min leads to the complete transformation of ferrite. The σ phase is formed preferentially at the α/α/γ junction, and then grows along the α/α boundary in the matrix.