Portevin-Le Chatelier effect in an E911 creep resistant steel with 3%Co additives

The effect of tempering temperature on mechanical properties of an E911+3%Co creep resistant steel was investigated. The mechanical tensile tests were carried out at temperatures from 298 to 1073 K and at strain rates varying from 2.1 x 10-5 s-1 to 2.1 x 10-1s-1. The Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect was found in the temperature range of 473 to 623 K. Various attributes of dynamic strain aging (DSA) like serrated flow with an acoustic emission were observed. With increasing temperature the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the yield strength (YS) increased while the ductility decreased. The dependences of the critical plastic strain on strain rate and temperature exhibited 'inverse' behavior that was associated with concentrated solid solution in the DSA regime.