Acoustic emission studies on welded and thermally treated AISI 304 stainless steel during tensile deformation

The present investigations are planned to study the influence of prior martensites formed due to cold treatment as 77K in AISI 304 SS welded specimens, on strain-induced martensites occurred during tensile deformation using AE technique. AE parameters like count rate and root mean square (r.m.s.) voltage have been used to characterize AE activities generated during tensile deformation process in as-welded and welded-treated samples. Frequency spectrum analysis of AE signals captured from the samples has been done to understand the dynamic behavior of the martensite phase formation. Tensile properties of these samples have also been reported. Volume fraction of the magnetic phase (martensite and delta ferrite) formed in these samples are measured before and after straining. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique has been used to support the presence of delta ferrite (formed during welding) and martensite in the weld region