Effect of Microstructure on Thermophysical Properties of Heat-Treated Duplex Steel

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of heat treatments and resulting changes in microstructure on the thermophysical properties of commercial 1.4462 duplex stainless steel. Three types of heat treatment and a raw sample were used. In the first heat treatment, a duplex steel bar was annealed in an air atmosphere furnace for one hour at 1200 °C and then quickly cooled in water (1200 °C + water). The second heat treatment was the same as the first, but afterwards, the bar was annealed in an air atmosphere furnace for 4 h at 800 °C and then slowly cooled down in the furnace to room temperature (1200 °C + water + 800 °C). In the third heat treatment, the duplex steel bar was annealed in the furnace in an air atmosphere for one hour at 900 °C and then slowly cooled in the furnace to room temperature (900 °C). As a result, the weight percentages of ferrite and austenite in the samples achieved the following ratios: 75:25, 65:35 and 44:56. Light microscope examinations (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers micro-hardness measurements and thermophysical studies using a laser flash apparatus (LFA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and push-rod dilatometry (DIL) were performed to reveal the microstructure and changes in thermophysical properties including thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and specific heat. Along with presenting these data, the paper, in brief, presents the applied investigation procedures.