Development of antiferromagnetic ordering in steels of 10Kh18AG18 type under isothermal conditions

Moessbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and tensile tests were used to study structure and properties of austenitic steels 10Kh18AG18 and 10Kh18AG18N5MF after quenching, plastic deformation and aging. The instability of steel properties in time was revealed. In the process of isothermal holding in an antiferromagnetic state a change is observed in the shape of gamma-quantum resonance absorption line, the integral intensity of X-ray diffraction maximum increases, the tendency to an yield strength rise manifests itself. These effects are assumed to be due to the existence of magnetic heterogeneities occurring in antiferromagnetic state by reason of short range precipitation of austenitic and elastic stress relaxation