METHODS FOR PROCESSING METAL ALLOYS

摘要

A method of processing a metal alloy includes heating to a temperature in a working temperature range from a recrystallization temperature of the metal alloy to a temperature less than an incipient melting temperature of the metal alloy, and working the alloy. At least a surface region is heated to a temperature in the working temperature range. The surface region is maintained within the working temperature range for a period of time to recrystallize the surface region of the metal alloy, and the alloy is cooled so as to minimize grain growth. In embodiments including superaustenitic and austenitic stainless steel alloys, process temperatures and times are selected to avoid precipitation of deleterious intermetallic sigma-phase. A hot worked superaustenitic stainless steel alloy having equiaxed grains throughout the alloy is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of processing a metal alloy, the method comprising:
heating a metal alloy to a temperature in a working temperature range, wherein the working temperature range is from a recrystallization temperature of the metal alloy to a temperature just below an incipient melting temperature of the metal alloy; working the metal alloy at a temperature in the working temperature range; heating at least a surface region of the metal alloy to a temperature in the working temperature range; maintaining the surface region of the metal alloy within the working temperature range for a period of time sufficient to recrystallize the surface region of the metal alloy and to minimize grain growth in the metal alloy; and cooling the metal alloy from the annealing temperature range at a cooling rate and to a temperature that minimizes grain growth in the metal alloy.