Architecting Multiscale Heterostructures and Mechanical Properties of Super Duplex Stainless Steel 2507

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2026.240

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2026, Vol. 40

Issue (10): 733-745 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2026.240

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Architecting Multiscale Heterostructures and Mechanical Properties of Super Duplex Stainless Steel 2507

LIANG Hong¹^,², YUAN Ye¹, HUANG Huan¹, LIU Yu³, ZUO Taisen⁴^,⁵, DONG Zhaohui⁶, ZHAO Zilong⁶, XU Xin¹^,²(

)

^1.School of Materials, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
^2.Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
^3.Central Iron & Steel Research Institute, Beijing 100081, China
^4.Spallation Neutron Source Science Center (SNSSC), Dongguan 523803, China
^5.Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
^6.Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200120, China

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LIANG Hong, YUAN Ye, HUANG Huan, LIU Yu, ZUO Taisen, DONG Zhaohui, ZHAO Zilong, XU Xin. Architecting Multiscale Heterostructures and Mechanical Properties of Super Duplex Stainless Steel 2507. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2026, 40(10): 733-745.

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Abstract

A novel strategy for constructing a multiscale, multiple-heterogeneity heterostructure is proposed in this study to overcome the conventional strength-ductility trade-off in duplex stainless steels (DSSs). The multiscale heterogeneous microstructure, which integrates microscale phase heterogeneity, grain-size heterogeneity, and nanoscale chemical heterogeneity, was successfully constructed in super duplex stainless steel 2507 via a simple processing route involving two-step solution treatment, cold rolling, recrystallization annealing, and aging. The effects of recrystallization annealing temperature and time on grain size and phase fraction evolution were systematically investigated, and spinodal decomposition (SD) nanostructures were quantitatively characterized using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The formation mechanisms of the multiscale heterostructure and their effects on mechanical behavior were elucidated, thereby obtaining the optimal processing route. The results of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction tensile tests reveal that the heterogeneous microstructure induces a pronounced hetero-deformation strengthening effect and promotes dynamic stress-strain partitioning between austenite and ferrite during plastic deformation. This mechanism significantly enhances the work-hardening capability of austenite while alleviating stress concentration in ferrite, thereby suppressing the initiation and propagation of microcracks. Furthermore, the SD nanostructures formed in ferrite provide additional strengthening contributions. Consequently, the heterostructured DSS exhibited an exceptional combination of strength and ductility, with a yield strength of 1056 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1399 MPa, and an elongation of 25%. These results demonstrate that the multiscale heterostructures effectively break the conventional strength-ductility trade-off in DSSs. These findings not only present a novel microstructural design strategy for developing high-performance DSSs, but also offer important theoretical references and an experimental basis for the design of advanced structural metallic materials with enhanced strength-ductility synergy.

Key words: metallic materials heterostructure synchrotron X-ray diffraction duplex stainless steel mechanical property small-angle neutron scattering

Received: 17 June 2026

ZTFLH:

TG135

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52101168);Innovation Group Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)(311021013)

Corresponding Authors: XU Xin, Tel: 13575233430, E-mail: xuxin58@mail.sysu.edu.cn

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	LIANG Hong
	YUAN Ye
	HUANG Huan
	LIU Yu
	ZUO Taisen
	DONG Zhaohui
	ZHAO Zilong
	XU Xin

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2026.240 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2026/V40/I10/733

Table 1 Chemical composition of SDSS 2507 (mass fraction, %)

Fig.1 Microstructure of the as-received SDSS 2507 (a) phase map, (b) IPF map

Fig.2 Equilibrium phase volume fraction vs. temperature of SDSS 2507 by Thermo-Calc software^[28] (a) and the processing route of the specimens (b)

Table 2 Summary of processing parameters and corresponding specimen designations

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of the in-situ tensile SXRD experiment

Fig.4 EBSD characterization of the microstructure after the first and second solution treatments (a, c) 1330 ^oC/30 min/WQ, (b, d) 1330 ^oC/30 min/WQ + 1100 ^oC/20 min/WQ, (a, b) phase maps, (c, d) IPF maps

Fig.5 EBSD maps of specimens after recrystallization annealing (a-c) H1, (d-f) H2, (g-i) H3, (j-l) H4, (m-o) H5, (a, d, g, j, m) phase maps, (b, e, h, k, n) IPF maps, (c, f, i, l, o) GOS maps

Fig.6 Average grain sizes of austenite and ferrite vs. recrystallization annealing time (a) and GOS data (b)

Fig.7 One-dimensional SANS data of specimens after aging at 450 ^oC for 100 h

Table 3 Quantitative results of SD for different specimens

Fig.8 Engineering stress-strain curves of different specimens (a) annealed specimens, (b) aged specimens

Table 4 Tensile properties of each specimen

Fig.9 SEM images of fracture surfaces of aged specimens (a) H1-100, (b) H2-100, (c) H3-100, (d) H4-100, (e) H5-100

Fig.10 SXRD profiles of the H1-100 specimen (a) initial and fractured states, (b) at different strain values

Fig.11 Lattice strains of austenite and ferrite along the tensile axis in the H1-100 specimen versus engineering strain (a) and engineering stress (b)

Fig.12 Evolution of average FWHM/d with engineering stress for austenite and ferrite in the H1-100 specimen during tensile deformation

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