Solidification Properties and Ferrite Distribution Characteristics of 316H Austenitic Stainless Steel Calculated Based on Thermo-Calc

This study aims to optimize the homogenization process of 316H austenitic stainless steel slabs through simulation calculations using the Thermo-Calc software， with the goal of reducing the high-temperature ferrite content in the final product. The equilibrium and non-equilibrium solidification path simulations were conducted， in combination with metallographic analysis of actual cast slab samples， to determine the optimal homogenization heat treatment parameters， thus effectively reducing the ferrite content.Prior to optimization， the slab was homogenized at 1 250 ℃ for 1 000 minutes， resulting in a final product ferrite content of 3% to 4%. Through improvements to the homogenization process， the process was adjusted to two stages，： the first stage involved holding at 1 250 ℃ for 250 minutes， followed by the second stage at 1 180 ℃ for 250 minutes. The optimized process reduced the ferrite content in the finished product to below 1%， while significantly improving the material's microstructure. After the process optimization， the tensile strength and impact toughness of the finished product at room temperature met the material standard requirements. Moreover， the experimental results indicate that adjusting the homogenization temperature and holding time effectively promotes the transformation of ferrite to austenite and reduces the segregation within the solid solution.