Hot and Cold Rolling of High Nitrogen Cr-Ni and Cr-Mn Austenitic Stainless Steels

Behavior of austenitic Cr-Ni-(0.14-0.50)N and Cr-Mn-(0.78-1.00)N steels in hot and cold rolling was investigated by rolling experiments and mechanical testing. Structure of the steels in the as-cast condition and fracture surfaces after the rolling experiments were investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Resistance to deformation was calculated using rolling forces in hot rolling. Increase in strength in the rolling experiments was related to the nitrogen content of the steels. Resistance to deformation during hot rolling increased with decreasing rolling temperature and with increasing nitrogen content. In some steels, hot rolling led to edge cracking, which was more a function of impurity than nitrogen content. Microscopy revealed that the edge cracking occurred along grain boundaries and second phase particles. For the cold-rolled steels, the highest achievable reductions were limited due to a "crocodiling" phenomenon, that is, opening of the strip end. Fracture type at the opened strip end was a brittle-like fracture.