Evolution of Dislocation Substructures in Fatigue Loaded and Failed Stainless Steel Processed by High-intensity Electron Beam

Electron-beam treatment of 08Cr18Ni10Ti steel in the mode of ~5 μm surface layer melting (electron beam energy density is 25 J/cm2) results in increase in fatigue durability by a factor of 3.44. Investigations of the structure-phase states and defective substructure and the factors responsible for increase in fatigue durability of steel have been carried out by the methods of optical, scanning and transmission electron diffraction microscopy.