The evolution of strain induced martensite in austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 was investigated in a rolling contact on a two-discs-tribometer. The effects of surface roughness, slip and normal force as well as the number of load cycles were examined. In comparison to the investigations of martensitic phase transformation during cold rolling, the applied stresses are considerably lower. The formation of strain induced martensite was detected in-situ by means of a FERITSCOPE MP30 and ex-situ by optical microscopy after etching with Kane etchant. Both number of load cycles and magnitude of normal force appeared to be the main influencing factors regarding strain induced martensitic evolution in low stress rolling contacts.
Low temperature carburizing of a series of austenitic stainless with various combinations of chromium and nickel equivalents was performed. The investigation of the response towards low temperature carburized for three stainless steels with various Cr- and Ni-equivalents showed that the carbon uptake depends significantly on the chemical composition of the base material. The higher carbon content in the expanded austenite layer of specimen 6 (1.4565) and specimen 4 (1.4539/AISI 904L) compared to specimen 2 (1.4404/AISI 316L) is assumed to be mainly related to the difference in the specimens’ chromium content. More chromium leads to more lattice expansion. Along with the higher carbon content, higher hardness values and higher compressive residual stresses in the expanded austenite zone are introduced than for low temperature carburized AISI 316L. The residual stresses obtained from X-ray diffraction lattice strain investigation depend strongly on the chosen X-ray elastic constants. Presently, no values are known for carbon (or nitrogen) stabilized expanded austenite. Nevertheless, first principle elastic constants for γ′&minus Fe4C appear to provide realistic residual stress values. Magnetic force microscopy and measurement with an eddy current probe indicate that austenitic stainless steels can become ferromagnetic upon carburizing, similar for low temperature nitriding. The apparent transition from para- to ferromagnetism cannot be attributed entirely to the interstitially dissolved carbon content in the formed expanded austenite layer but appears to depend also on the metallic composition of the alloy, in particular the Ni content.
In the automotive industry a strong effort has been undertaken to reduce the weight of modern vehicles. In order to reduce the energy consumption and to improve the environmental sustainability, the importance of weight reduction activities is even growing faster. As lightweight designing is becoming more and more expensive and show less potential savings, new approaches are needed. One promising technology could be the use of shape memory elements. In the last years a lot of potential application possibilities were presented, demonstrating the benefit of these functional elements in automotive design solutions: they often reduce complexity, weight and design space of an actuation device and enable new functions. In addition they work silently and are therefore ideally suitable for comfort applications in the passenger cabin. Because of the current trend to electric vehicle the hitherto existing drawback of a high electrical energy consumption of shape memory actuators in some design proposals is not given any more.
The first part of this work shows the development and application of a new material system using high strength duplex stainless steel wires as net material with environmentally compatible antifouling properties for off-shore fish farm cages. Current net materials from textiles (polyamide) shall be partially replaced by high strength duplex stainless steel in order to have a more environmentally compatible system which meets the more severe mechanical loads (waves, storms, predatores (sharks, seals)). With a new antifouling strategy current issues like reduced ecological damage (e.g. due to copper disposal), lower maintenance costs (e.g. cleaning) and reduced durability shall be resolved.
High strength steel wires are also widely used in geological protection systems, for example rockfall protection or slope stabilisation. Normally hot-dip galvanised carbon steel is used in this case. But in highly corrosive environments like coastal areas, volcanic areas or mines for example, other solutions with a high corrosion resistance and sufficient mechanical properties are necessary. Protection systems made of high strength duplex stainless steel wires enable a significantly longer service life of the portection systems and therefore a higher level of security.