Microstructure Mapping: An approach to quantitative interpretation of microstructural evolution in Indian Fast Reactor Advanced Clad material during hot forging

摘要

In this paper, microstructural evolution of Indian Fast Reactor Advanced Clad (IFAC-1) steel during thermo-mechanical processing has been investigated. Hot isothermal forging has been simulated in a Gleeble® thermo-mechanical simulator in the temperature range 1173-1473K and true strain rate range 0.01-100s~(-1). Instability map has been developed using the stress-strain data obtained. Effect of major forging parameters on various microstructural features has been studied quantitatively. Results from this study have been used to construct various maps ('μ-maps') representing different aspects of microstructural evolution. An analogy between the μ-maps and instability maps provides essential insights into possible instability mechanisms operative in the material. The μ-map analysis shows potential as a tool for optimisation of industrial-scale forging parameters.