The effect of crystallographic orientation and interfaces on thermo-mechanical softening of a martensitic steel

Thermo-mechanical softening forms the basis for hot working of metallic materials. In materials with hierarchical microstructures such as martensite, softening processes can be mediated or restricted by interfaces. In the present study, the operation of three distinct softening mechanisms in P91 martensitic steel during thermo-mechanical processing (TMP) has been investigated. The softening in the present case is found to arise from the interplay between microstructural strain, texture, and phase transformation. Further, softening characteristics vary with the TMP parameters. The manifestation of softening has been explored at the macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic length scales. It has been found that each softening mechanism is differently mediated by the interfaces and is governed by local crystallographic orientation. Thermo-mechanical softening of martensite proceeds through orientation-dependent dynamic recrystallization. The role of specific interfaces in impeding this mechanism has been highlighted. In contrast, TMP of austenite proceeds through interface-mediated softening, combining the phenomena of recrystallization and phase transformation. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]