Recrystallization in HR3C austenitic heat resistant steel

In the present study, the recrystallization and grain growth behavior of HR3C austenitic heat resistant steel were studied by scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (SEM/EBSD). The HR3C steel was forged into a plate of 12mm in thickness and then solution treated at 1150-1250 degrees C followed by an annealing treatment at 650-1050 degrees C for 1h. The results show that the recrystalization occurs during the annealing treatment when the steel is solution-treated at 1150 degrees C. Increasing the solution temperature to 1200 degrees C or above, the recrystalization will not occur during the same annealing treatment. EBSD measured results show that the solution temperature has a significant effect on grain boundary character, especially on density of the low angle grain boundaries within the austenitic grain. The mechanism of the recrystallization and effect of annealing treatment on precipitation behavior of second phase were analyzed.