Elastic strain evolution and ε-martensite formation in individual austenite grains during in situ loading of a metastable stainless steel

The (hcp) epsilon-martensite formation and the elastic strain evolution of individual (fcc) austenite grains in metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 301 has been investigated during in situ tensile loading up to 5% applied strain. The experiment was conducted using high-energy X-rays and the 3DXRD technique, enabling studies of individual grains embedded in the bulk of the steel. Out of the 47 probed austenite grains, one could be coupled with the formation of epsilon-martensite, using the reported orientation relationship between the two phases. The formation of e-martensite occurred in the austenite grain with the highest Schmid factor for the active {111} <1<(2)over bar>1> slip system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.