Initiation of dynamic recrystallization of as-cast N08028 alloy

The use of high nickel content austenitic stainless steels (SASS) has significantly increased in the last decade. The corrosion and high fatigue resistance of these materials make them suitable for manufacturing oil country tubular goods (OCTG). SASS are processing by forging from casting conditions. Dynamic recovery (DRV) and recrystallization (DRX) of as-cast super austenitic stainless steel, N08028 Alloy, is investigated to study the refining effect from the as-cast grain structure to fully recrystallized austenite due to hot deformation. Both the critical stress and strain for the initiation of DRX are determined using the flow curves. To perform this analysis, hot compression tests are performed at temperatures between 900°C and 1250°C, and strain rates between 0.1 s^-1 and 10 s^-1, up to 0,8 final strain using a Gleeble®3800 thermomechanical simulator. Subsequently, the Johnson-Avrami-Mehl-Kolmogorow (JMAK) model is used to numerically fit the flow curves and consequently determine the critical strain. No critical points are seen for temperatures under 1100°C. Above this temperature, the JMAK model proves to be valid in all studied strain rates.