M. Eskandari - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran
A. Najafizadeh - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran
A. Kermanpur - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran
M. Karimi - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶-۸۳۱۱۱, Iran

In this work, effects of homogenization time of ۳ to ۱۳ h at ۱۲۰۰ °C on the grain refinement of as-cast AISI ۳۰۱ stainless steel after different hot rolling conditions were investigated. The results showed that the minimum grain size of ۱۶±۷ mm was achieved when homogenization took place at ۱۲۰۰ °C for ۹ h followed by hot rolling at temperature range of ۱۰۰۰–۱۲۰۰ °C with strain of ۰.۸ and strain rate of ۱.۲ s-۱ and annealing at ۱۰۵۰ °C for ۳ min. Effect of Nb element on the retardation of recrystallization was pronounced. It seems that there is an optimum solute segregation below which retardation and above which grain growth of recrystallized grains is dominant. It was also found that this optimum homogenization condition was dependent upon the hot rolling parameters; higher the strain and strain rate resulted in lower homogenizing time at ۱۲۰۰ °C.

Grain refinement, ۳۰۱ stainless steel, Homogenization, Hot Rolling