A metallographic study of heat affected zone cracks formed in type 304 stainless steel forgings

摘要

Metallographic techniques have been used m an attempt to determine the mechanism operative m the formation of heat affected zone microcracks in forgings of type 304 austenitic stainless steel. Microcracks have been detected in the heat affected zone associated with non-metallic inclusions adjacent to the fusion boundary. Electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis have been used to identify grain boundary constituents. This has enabled M23C6 and M7C3 to be identified and other particles have been shown to be oxides and silicates.