Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel

Dear Colleagues,

The properly designed chemical composition of stainless steels determines its internal structure and provides various material properties of individual grades. Austenitic stainless steels are very ductile, can be easily formed into complex shapes during stamping, and can be hardened to a high strength under plastic deformation. Depending on their chemical composition, Cr–Ni, Cr–Ni–Mo, and Cr–Mn austenitic steels represent a broad group of materials with various mechanical and corrosion properties. Cr–Mn stainless steels with a high susceptibility to work hardening are gaining popularity. Ferritic stainless steels without nickel addition are cheaper than austenitic grades, and represent an economical alternative for many industrial applications. Good corrosion resistance, formability, and low cost are the main advantages of ferritic grades. Depending on the content of chromium, titanium, and molybdenum, popular ferritic grades can be easily welded and formed by deep drawing. On the other hand, duplex stainless steels combine the advantages of austenite and ferrite structures in one material. These steels combine the benefits of single-phase grades, which allow for high strength and corrosion resistance at the same time. In recent years, the so-called lean duplex steels, which, thanks to chemical composition optimisation, can be cheaper, while maintaining high mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Stainless steels can also be hardened, making the structure martensitic, thus giving very hard and wear-resistant material. Many applications require both wear and corrosion resistance, and this is where martensitic grades are used. Their wide range of material properties makes stainless steels more widely used in virtually every area of life and industry. Moreover, there are increasing possibilities for the application of these materials, which result from intensive research work in the field, aimed at improving the operational properties of stainless steels.

This Special Issue will address the phenomena related to stainless steels' mechanical properties. This Issue's scope is extensive, providing the possibility to present developments and research in all aspects of this field, and includes various processes causing changes in the mechanical properties of stainless steels, such as heat treatment, surface treatment, thermomechanical treatment, and forming and joining methods. The influence of service conditions (heat, creep, thermal shock, fatigue, erosion, wear, corrosion, etc.) on the microstructural changes and mechanical properties' alteration will also be addressed.

Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Brytan
Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Golański
Prof. Dr. Marek Sroka
Guest Editors

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• Stainless Steel
• Plastic Deformation
• Strain-Induced Martensitic Transformation
• Martensitic Transformation
• Creep
• Microstructure
• Mechanical Properties
• Precipitation
• Corrosion Resistance
• Welding of Stainless Steel