Hardening Behavior of a 304 Stainless Steel Containing Deformation-Induced Martensite during Static Strain Aging

The hardening behavior of a 304 stainless steel containing deformation-induced martensite during static strain ageing was investigated. Tensile strength increased with the increase of aging temperature. The results of DSC measurements showed that the aging mechanisms would be related to carbon diffusion to dislocations in α′-martensite and carbon diffusion in austenite. It is found that the increase of strength during strain aging would be attributed to hardening of austenite as well as α′-martensite.