Martensitic transformation-governed Luders deformation enables large ductility and late-stage strain hardening in ultrafine-grained austenitic stainless steel at low temperatures

Mao, W.*; Gao, S.*; Gong, W.   ; Kawasaki, Takuro   ; Ito, Tatsuya   ; Harjo, S.   ; Tsuji, Nobuhiro*

Using a hybrid method of in situ neutron diffraction and digital image correlation, we found that ultrafine-grained 304 stainless steel exhibits Luders deformation after yielding, in which the deformation behavior changes from a cooperation mechanism involving dislocation slip and martensitic transformation to one primarily governed by martensitic transformation, as the temperature decreases from 295 K to 77 K. Such martensitic transformation-governed Luders deformation delays the activation of plastic deformation in both the austenite parent and martensite product, resulting in delayed strain hardening. This preserves the strain-hardening capability for the later stage of deformation, thereby maintaining a remarkable elongation of 29% while achieving a high tensile strength of 1.87 GPa at 77 K.