Abstract
The recrystallization behavior of Cu containing 17% Cr ferritic stainless steel cold-rolled sheets was investigated while evaluating the ε-Cu precipitation behavior during annealing. In the case of Cu in a solid solution before cold rolling, the recrystallization temperature of steel containing more than 1% Cu was high. It was thought that recrystallization was delayed because of the ε-Cu precipitation during annealing. The recrystallization temperature of 1.5%Cu-containing steel with fine ε-Cu precipitation because of aging for a short time before cold rolling was similar to that of Cu in solid solution before cold rolling. In contrast, in the case of coarse ε-Cu precipitation because of aging for long time before cold rolling, the recrystallization temperature decreased and was similar to that of steel with no Cu addition. In addition, the Cu-added steel had a weaker recrystallization texture than the no-Cu steel, but γ-fiber was developed because of aging for a long time before cold rolling. Consequently, the volume fraction and size of ε-Cu precipitation, which caused the recrystallization behavior, were examined quantitatively. The analysis based on the subgrain growth model considering a temperature change in the precipitation state such as the volume fraction and particle diameter using Thermo-Calc. and DICTRA was effective.
