A magnetic study of the reversion of martensite α′ in a 304 stainless steel

alpha'(bcc) Martensite was introduced by room temperature plastic deformation by rolling of an AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The amounts of martensite produced by rolling reductions of 18, 29 and 41% were quantified by magnetization saturation measurements. The reversion of the martensite formed (alpha'-->gamma) was investigated by means of thermomagnetic analysis. It was possible to determine the starting (A(s)) and final (A(f)) temperatures of reversion for each deformation applied. In the isothermal treatments at 330 and 400 degrees C the amount of martensite increased, as previously observed by other authors. At 550 degrees C the amount of martensite decreased, showing that between A(s) and A(f) the reversion may progress isothermally. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.