Influence of heat treatment on the properties of antibacterial corrosion resistant steel

The field of application of corrosion-resistant austenitic steel is wide due to its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, durability, high strength and ductility. Austenitic corrosion-resistant steel is of particular importance for medicine. Medical instruments and products are made from it. However, the environment is very corrosive to metals and can lead to protein adsorption, biofilm formation (attachment of microorganisms/bacteria to the surface of the material), and corrosion or itself become a source of bacterial contamination. Recent studies have shown that the addition of Ag and Ti to corrosion-resistant steels can impart antibacterial properties to them without the need for surface modification. The article is devoted to the study of the structure and mechanical properties of a new antibacterial corrosion-resistant steel. The structure was studied by light optical microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The mechanical properties were studied by stretching the samples on a tensile testing machine. The effect of homogenizing annealing and ingot rolling on the structure of corrosion-resistant steel is shown. According to the test results, it has been established that heat treatment of steel makes it possible to increase the ductility of steel. After rolling, the plates have a fine-grained structure. Normalization at 900 °C and 1000 °C relieves internal stresses and reduces the proportion of ferrite in the structure.