Structural Transformations in Cold-Rolled Austenitic Chromium-Nickel Steel Studied by Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction and Peak Profile Analysis

The effect of cold rolling on the structure and properties of austenitic chromium-nickel steel 12Kh18N10T is studied. X-ray diffraction analysis is performed and the microhardness of the steel is measured after rolling to different strains. The changes in the coherent scattering regions and the distortions of the crystal lattice of the steel are considered. It is shown that plastic deformation results in a mechanically induced transformation of the austenite (γ) into martensite (α′). The martensite inherits the defects formed in the process of straining of the initial phase (austenite). The data of the x-ray diffraction analysis agree with the measured microhardness of the deformed steel.