Magneto-optical Kerr effect analysis of strain-induced martensite formation during flow forming of metastable austenitic steel AISI 304L

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This paper presents a characterization of the microstructural evolution and its correlation with the magnetic structure due to flow forming of semi-finished tubes of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L. The plastic deformation triggers a phase transformation of the metastable austenite into α’-martensite.</jats:p> <jats:p>Depending on the combination of production parameters, different fractions of strain-induced α’-martensite were measured by means non-destructive micromagnetic techniques and correlated with the evolution of hardness and the microstructure using electron backscatter diffraction analyses. The magneto-optical Kerr effect analysis was used as a tool to perform a qualitative analysis of the evolution of the magnetic domain structure correlated with the formation of α’-martensite. An analysis of these data allowed to derive surface magnetization hysteresis loops that were compared with integral hysteresis loops of the specimens. It was proven by both methods that the formation of martensite increases the magnetic energy and the spontaneous magnetization of the specimens. The results of this investigation contribute to a better understanding of micromagnetic sensors to monitor and control the formation of α’-martensite in a flow forming. Furthermore, various techniques have demonstrated the evolution of the magnetic properties of the material, which can be applied in applications for invisible coding of workpieces.</jats:p>