Abstract
Deformation localization and structure evolution were investigated in an AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel deformed to 0.8% strain. Using SEM-EBSD, it was shown local plastic deformation may reach significant levels even when the bulk averaged strain level remains below 1%. Local misorientation values up to 24° were observed in these regions of high local plastic deformation. EBSD analysis of FIB lift-out specimens demonstrated that local misorientation level was highest near the free surface and diminished with increasing depth. (S)TEM observations on the same specimen indicated the local density of dislocation channels may vary up to an order of magnitude depending on local grain configuration, distance to the surface and/or local grain boundary structure. It was found that in the case of RT deformation, dislocation defect-free channels may contain twin or may be twin-free with twinning occurring inside channels. Formation of BCC-phase colonies (martensite) was observed in near-surface layer whereas no transformation in the volume of the specimen was detected at this strain level. Martensite formation was associated with channel-grain boundary intersection points where high local misorientation was observed using EBSD.
