Effect of tempering temperature on properties of 00Cr16Ni5Mo stainless steel

Specimens of 00Cr16Ni5Mo low carbon martensitic stainless steel were normalized at 1000 °C followed by tempering at 525 °C, 550 °C, 575 °C, 600 °C and 625 °C. After heat treatment, mechanical properties and pitting potential were determined through tensile, impact and electrochemical polarization tests. The results showed that the samples tempered at 550 °C and 600 °C for 2 h had an excellent combination of tensile strength, elongation, impact energy, hardness and corrosion resistance. Scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction examinations were conducted. These revealed that the properties of the steel were affected by the structure of the lath martensite, δ-ferrite, retained austenite and carbides.