Processing of submicron grain 304 stainless steel

Abstract
A novel thermomechanical processing technique for the synthesis of bulk submicron grain (grain size ≈200 nm) 304 stainless steel is reported. This ingot-metallurgical technique requires a total deformation of only 95%, and the key steps to this processing technique involve (i) formation of ultrafine dislocation cell structure, and (ii) the conversion of dislocation cells into grains with medium to high misorientation by grain boundary sliding.