Relationships between microstructure and properties of stainless steels - A few working examples

Microstructural characterisation is crucial for having a basic understandin g of the relationship between the properties of stainless steels and their chemistry and processing to improve the existing steels and in search for n ew processes and new steels. Modern stainless steels are highly alloyed, an d often have complex microstructures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM ) with high spatial resolution provides a powerful means to investigate the microstructure qualitatively and quantitatively, using techniques such as imaging, quantitative image analysis, selected-area electron diffraction (S AED), convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED), X-ray energy-dispersive analysis (EDX), and EDX mapping. Ln the present report, a few working examp les illustrate that microstructural characterisation is essential to bridge between the chemistry, process, and property of modern stainless steel. (C ) Elsevier Science Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.