Observation of the ''second'' recrystallization in austenitic steels

The recrystallization was investigated of hot-rolled pipes of 12 Kh18N12T and 08Kh16N9M2 steels subjected to not expanding and subsequent annealing for 0-5 h at temperatures of 1150 and 1000 deg C. The observed ''second'' recrystallization which follows the secondary one, leads to a disintegration of austenite grains to 3-7 points. The extent of the process depends on the initial state of the alloy and of the hot deformation diagram and provides a homogeneous structure in pipes intended for service in high-parameter power generating installations