The solidification sequence in an 18-8 stainless steel, investigated by directional solidification

Abstract

The directional solidification technique was applied in order to investigate the complicated solidification sequence in a commercial austenitic stainless steel which was known to yield a primary precipitation of § ferrite when cast into a 5 tons ingot. Three stages of solidification were found. The first precipitation of § ferrite was interrupted by precipitation of austenite and at the end of the solidification there was a transition back to precipitation of § ferrite. The competition between the first two stages is affected by the cooling rate and the nitrogen content. The precipitation of austenite from the melt results in the usual coring whereas ô ferrite forms with a very homogeneous composition, presumably due to rapid diffusion in this phase. On cooling austenite forms from the § ferrite and this reaction also results in coring, presumably due to rapid diffusion in § ferrite.