Analysis of the AISI 316 stainless steel sheet response to sub-zero deformation temperatures

Sheet forming carried out at sub-zero temperatures is gaining interest for deforming metal sheets to increase formability while avoiding the need for subsequent heat treatments after forming at elevated temperatures. This paper investigates the feasibility of conducting sub-zero deformation on AISI 316 stainless steel sheets at temperatures ranging from −100 °C to 700 °C at varying rolling directions. The mechanical and microstructural features were evaluated after deformation as well as the corrosion resistance. The obtained results showed that deformation at −50 °C induced a substantial increase of the uniform elongation and slightly higher hardness, but lower corrosion resistance, compared to testing at room temperature and at 300 °C and 700 °C.