Annealing twin boundary cracking in the low-temperature brittle fracture of a high-nitrogen bearing austenitic steel

Crack propagation paths in the low temperature brittle fracture of 18Cr-18Mn-0.7N austenitic steel were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. Corresponding relationships of the fracture facets with microstructures were established by the simultaneous observation of the fracture surface and the microstructure of the adjacent side surface. It was shown that the annealing twin boundary cracking occurred during fracture. A great deal of twins formed during solution treatment of the steel, with steps several microns high on the twin boundaries, and a considerable amount of planar deformation structures developed on {111} planes in the fracture process. The fracture facets of the annealing twin boundary are fairly flat and smooth, with bent steps of micron-scale height, and a pattern of three sets of parallel straight-lines intersecting at 60°. But there is no river pattern on the facets. The bent steps result from partial propagation of crack along steps that are developed on annealing twin boundaries during solution treatment, while the line-pattern is the intersection traces of the planar deformation structures with the fracture facet. It is believed that the annealing twin boundary cracking is attributed to the stress concentration arising at the intersection of planar deformation structures and the annealing twin boundaries.