The paper presents an analysis of classical heat treatments, which can be applied to AISI310S steel samples. The influence of these heat treatments was highlighted by micro-hardness measurements – Vickers method, and also the structural analysis made on electronic microscope, at different magnitudes. The AISI 310S steel is part of chrome-nickel stainless steels and presents good resistance properties. These properties are due to principal alloying elements (nickel, chrome) and recommend its being used in corrosive medium and high temperatures

Andrei-Cătălin ȚUGUI

Dragoș-Cristian ACHIȚEI

Manuela-Cristina PERJU

Nicanor CIMPOEȘU

Ramona CIMPOEȘU

The Annals of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati Fascicle IX Metallurgy and Materials Science

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THE ANNALS OF “DUNAREA DE JOS” UNIVERSITY OF GALATI 
FASCICLE IX. METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE 
No. 3 - 2017, ISSN 1453-083X 
 
 
 
 
 
STUDIES REGARDING THE PROPERTIES MODIFICATION 
OF AISI 310S STEEL 
 
Dragoș-Cristian ACHIȚEI, Ramona CIMPOEȘU, 
Manuela-Cristina PERJU, Nicanor CIMPOEȘU, Andrei-Cătălin ȚUGUI 
“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași, Romania 
e-mail: dragos_adc@yahoo.com 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
The paper presents an analysis of classical heat treatments, which can be 
applied to AISI310S steel samples. The influence of these heat treatments was 
highlighted by micro-hardness measurements – Vickers method, and also the 
structural analysis made on electronic microscope, at different magnitudes. The 
AISI 310S steel is part of chrome-nickel stainless steels and presents good 
resistance properties. These properties are due to principal alloying elements 
(nickel, chrome) and recommend its being used in corrosive medium and high 
temperatures. 
 
KEYWORDS: steel, properties, stainless, refractory 
 
1. Introduction 
 
The alloying of the steel with various chemical 
elements can induce a good corrosion resistance in 
aggressive environments, in water, in atmosphere or 
at high temperatures oxidation. 
Alloying elements help the appearance of a 
superficial layer, compact and adherent of resistant 
oxides at the chemical action of the work 
environment. 
The stainless or refractory steels are alloyed 
with chrome or chrome-nickel in order to enhance 
their resistance at chemical action of the environment. 
In combination with elements which present a high 
tendency to form carbides, like titanium, niobium, 
molybdenum and tungsten, the chrome-nickel high 
alloyed steels form the base of austenitic and 
austenitic-ferrite refractory steels. 
The refractory and anticorrosive steels are high 
alloyed with chrome, with additions of: 
• Aluminum and silicon – which increase the 
oxidation resistance at high temperatures; 
• Molybdenum, vanadium and tungsten – 
which increase the resistance properties; 
• Nickel – which increase the tenacity and 
plastic deformation processing. 
The stainless steels present a good chemical 
stability associated with good mechanical properties, 
especially long-time resistance. 
Oxidation resistance at high temperatures of 
refractory steels is assured by the forming of a stable 
layer, compact, protector of oxides: SiO2, Cr2O3 and 
Al2O3. The stainless steels alloyed with nickel can be 
used in cryogenic environments. 
The structure of laminated or forged austenitic 
steels consists in an austenitic mass with numerous 
special carbides included. The special carbides, 
included in base mass, stopped the slippage and 
harden the plastic deformation at the work 
temperatures in exploitation. The δ ferrite, which 
appears in austenite – ferrite steels, is often unstable 
and is discomposed even at higher annealing 
temperatures, and also at maintaining work 
temperatures in exploitation.  
To point out the existent structural constituents, 
a multiple attack is necessary. Through royal water 
attack are first revealed the outlines of different 
crystallites. The next electrolytic attack with chromic 
anhydride 10% in water solution has colored the fine 
carbides in black, meanwhile the σ phase was 
removed through dissolution. 
 
2. Experiments 
 
2.1. Determination of alloying elements 
 
The chemical composition is determined 
through quantitative spectral analysis, using a 
Foundry Masters optical spectrometer, type 01J0013, 
calibrated for iron analysis base. 
 
 
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THE ANNALS OF “DUNAREA DE JOS” UNIVERSITY OF GALATI 
FASCICLE IX. METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE 
No. 3 - 2017, ISSN 1453-083X 
 
 
 
Table 1. Chemical composition of analyzed samples (wt.%) 
 
Fe C Si Mn P S Cr Mo 
52.3 0.122 1.08 1.46 0.0272 0.005 24.1 0.12 
Ni Al Co Cu Nb Ti V W 
20.1 0.0055 0.2 0.0837 0.0252 0.085 0.0714 0.02 
 
2.2. Industrial applicability 
 
The analyzed steel is part of stainless steels, type 
12NiCr120 – refractory and anticorrosive steels 
category. 
The names it has are 1.4845 after EN10095; 
310S after AISI; 12NiCr250 after STAS. 
Stainless Steel 310, combining excellent high 
temperature properties with good weldability and 
ductility, is designed for high temperature service. 
SS 310 resists oxidation in continuous service at 
temperatures up to 1150 °C provided reducing sulfur 
gases are not present. SS 310 is also used for 
intermittent service at temperatures up to 1040 °C. 
Stainless Steel 310S is used when the 
application environment involves moist corrodents in 
a temperature range lower than that which is normally 
considered “high temperature” service. 
The lower carbon content of SS 310S does 
reduce its high temperature strength compared to 310. 
Typical applications: heat exchangers, furnace 
parts, combustion chambers, welding filler metals, 
gas turbine parts, jet engine rings, incinerators, 
recuperates, rolls for roller hearth furnaces. 
 
2.3. Structural modifications induced 
through heat treatments 
 
Recommendations regarding the heat treatments 
regime applied to the refractory steels: 
The martensitic and ferritic refractory steels will 
be submitted to some annealing heat treatments, 
regarding the increase of machine processing. 
The annealing temperatures are between 750-
850 °C, with maintaining times established according 
to chemical composition and thickness of the 
materials. It can be observed that after the 
recommended annealing, the steel has a plastic 
component. 
The austenitic refractory steels will be subjected 
to solution quenching, to increase especially the 
corrosion resistance. 
The samples were heat treated, according to the 
work specific parameters (see Table 2). 
The heating and maintaining of heat treated 
samples were made in an electric furnace, with 
resistors and fixed hearth, type UTTIS CE12. 
The samples have small dimensions and are 
obtained through cutting on METACUT 250 
machine, using an abrasive disk and cooling with 
water. 
 
Table 2. Mechanical properties and heat treatments 
 
Rp0.2 
[N/mm2] 
Rm 
[N/mm2] 
A5 
[%] 
HB 
Annealing 
[°C] 
Environment 
Quenching 
[°C] 
Environment 
225 490 20 140-190 850-900 Furnace 1050-1100 Water 
 
Table 3. Adopted parameters of applied heat treatments 
 
 
Initial 
temperature [°C] 
Final temperature 
[°C] 
Maintaining 
time [min] 
Cooling 
environment 
Cooling 
speed 
Annealing 20 850 10 Furnace Slow 
Quenching 20 1100 10 Water Fast 
 
2.4. Structural analysis 
 
With the help of scanning electronic 
microscopy, we can obtain images of topography and 
characteristic composition of sample surface.  
The formation of images is realized with the 
help of a primary electrons fascicle, very thin, which 
scan the sample surface.  
Through the interaction of the primary electrons 
with the surface, some of them are refreshed, and 
another part determines the forming of the secondary 
electrons. 
The image is realized with these electrons, either 
secondary, or refreshed, which creates a contrast 
dependent by the incident angle of fascicle and the 
sample composition. 
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THE ANNALS OF “DUNAREA DE JOS” UNIVERSITY OF GALATI 
FASCICLE IX. METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE 
No. 3 - 2017, ISSN 1453-083X 
 
 
 
Regarding the microscopic examination, the 
samples were cut with a machine with abrasive disk 
and water cooling, then polished on abrasive papers, 
polished on felt soaked with aluminum oxide and 
attacked with chemical reactive. 
 
  
a. AISI 310 steel structures in initial state 
  
b. AISI 310 steel structure after annealing heat treatment 
  
c. AISI 310 steel structure after quenching heat treatment 
 
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THE ANNALS OF “DUNAREA DE JOS” UNIVERSITY OF GALATI 
FASCICLE IX. METALLURGY AND MATERIALS SCIENCE 
No. 3 - 2017, ISSN 1453-083X 
 
 
 
2.5. Hardness measurements 
 
The hardness determination provides indications 
regarding the mechanical resistance of the alloy, 
imposing or not the utility of applying the heat 
treatments. 
Vickers microhardness method consists in 
pressing a pyramidal penetrator, with low speed and a 
certain force (in this case – 50 grams), on the sample 
material, for 15 seconds. 
The analyzed samples were prepared through 
polishing on abrasive paper, to remove the oxide 
traces or other substances resulted from the polishing 
process. 
 
Table 4. Measured values of hardness for the samples, after each heat treatment 
 
Nr. 
The initial 
state 
After 
annealing 
After 
quenching 
 
HV HVmed HV HVmed HV HVmed 
1. 472 
438 
268 
269 
369 
325 2. 425 287 313 
3. 416 251 292 
 
3. Conclusions 
 
The quantitative determinations of alloying 
elements, made through the quantitative spectral 
analysis, have demonstrated that the analyzed 
samples fit in the imposed limits by standard for AISI 
310 steel. 
The diversity of industrial application where 
AISI 310 alloy is used imposes the study of some 
heat treatments of improving the machine processing 
and also establishing final properties necessary in 
exploitation.  
That is why the recommended parameters were 
established according to specialty references and 
experiments were made at medium values of 
intervals. 
The microstructure of AISI 310 was analyzed 
with the help of a Vega Tescan electronic 
microscope, with different magnitudes.  
From the SEM images analysis specific 
structures of alloy in initial exploitation state can be 
highlighted, and also after the 2 applied heat 
treatments. 
The evaluation efficiency of applied heat 
treatments was made with the help of hardness 
measurements, through Vickers microhardness 
method, using a loading force of 50 grams.  
The obtained values fit in specific limits of the 
material and applied heat processing. 
 
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Studies Regarding the Properties Modification of AISI 310S Steel

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Studies Regarding the Properties Modification of AISI 310S Steel

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