Deformation Properties of Thermally Aged E308L Stainless Steel During Tensile Test with Carbide Effects

Microstructure and deformation properties of both unaged and aged cladding material were studied at 400 °C for 10,000 h. The results indicated that carbide formation occurred in the cladding material, while thermal aging treatment resulted in spinodal decomposition and G-phase formation in the aged ferrite phase. Furthermore, intensive straight slip bands formed in both unaged and aged austenite phases. Continual straight slip bands formed in the unaged ferrite phase, while curvilinear slip bands formed in the aged ferrite phase during the plastic deformation process. Microcracks preferred to nucleate at the points of interaction between phase boundaries and carbides, while the aged ferrite phase experienced lowered microcrack formation along the carbide/ferrite phase boundary. Microcracks propagated along the straight slip bands in the unaged ferrite phases and curvilinear slip bands in the aged ferrite phases.