Martensite formation and reversion and their effects on the void swelling of austenitic steels

Detailed structural examinations have been carried out on solution annealed and cold-rolled En58B (Type 321) and M316 (a modified version of AISI 316) austenitic steels and on two experimental austenitic alloys of nominal base compositions 18%Cr:8%Ni and 18%Cr:12%Ni; the latter two alloys were selected for study because of their markedly different austenite stabilities with respect to deformation-induced martensitic transformation. This paper summarises the principal results of the structural examination of the four steels in the solution treated, cold worked and subsequently annealed conditions. In addition preliminary data on the void swelling characteristics of the 18/8 and 18/12 steels, following irradiation with Ni6+ ions are described. (author)