An etching characterization method for revealing the plastic deformation zone in a SUS303 stainless steel

Abstract

Etching characteristics used to reveal localized plastic deformation zones in a SUS303 stainless steel have been examined. The etching was conducted on a sample using an etchant consisting of 5-g ferric chloride, 50-mL hydrochloric acid, and 100-mL water. The sample was deformed severely and heated to various temperatures before the etching process. With this etching technique, the plastically deformed area is clearly observed even at low magnification. This is due to a change of the microstructural characteristics in the plastic deformation zone. There are different microstructure patterns that reveal the plastic zone in the sample with and without heating, e.g., plastic zone in the sample with heating to 800 °C is observed clearly due to randomly oriented crystals and recrystallized small grains with precipitated nano-size particles. Details of the etching characteristics that reveal the plastic deformation zone are further discussed.