Computational Simulation of Duplex Stainless Steel Continuous Cooling Transformation Curves Using DICTRA^®

Despite of their excellent combination of high mechanical strength, toughness and corrosion resistance, duplex stainless steels (DSS) are susceptible to sigma phase formation, negatively affecting their superior properties. Sigma formation continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams can be a useful tool to avoid sigma formation during cooling from solution treatment temperatures; however, non-isothermal information about sigma formation in DSS are scarce in literature. This work presents a methodology to simulate CCT diagrams in DICTRA^® software, showing excellent adherence to literature data. The methodology here presented was also able to describe sigma phase formation behaviour for different DSS compositions.

Keywords:
Computation simulation; stainless steel; sigma phase; CCT; DICTRA