Abstract
Influence of strain accumulation schedule during hot rolling, under the thermomechanical control process (TMCP) on the structure evolution and carbide transformations of Cr-Ni-Ti austenitic stainless steel, is studied. The cellular, fragmented dislocation substructure and dynamically recrystallized (DRX) structure are observed in the steel with different strain accumulation schedules. It was found that the strain accumulation schedule, especially fractionality, affects the work-hardening and softening behavior quite significantly. The role of the strain accumulation schedule on the fragmented substructure and DRX structure evolution as well as carbide transformations and the relationship between the microstructure changes due to TMCP and the mechanical properties of studied steel, involving the recent ideas of the physics of large plastic strains, are considered.