Schermata 10-2457303 alle 11.04.12

Austenitic stainless steels cannot be hardened by heat treatment but by cold working. Actually, cold drawing will work harden the material thus increasing tensile properties, hence the elastic limit. However, while for cold forming steels the highest material plasticity is aimed for, spring steels require an optimum analysis balance to achieve the maximum work hardening degree. The influence of alloying elements on work hardening is shown on the diagram below:

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