In this paper, we have characterized the microstructural evolution and the plastic flow and
fracture behaviours of AISI 304L and AISI 316LN stainless steel grades at liquid nitrogen
temperature (77 K) and at liquid helium temperature (4 K). Uninterrupted tensile
experiments, where the sample is continuously deformed under quasi-static loading
conditions until fracture, have been carried out with a Single-Section Sample to obtain the
stress–strain characteristics of the two grades. Interrupted tensile experiments, in which the …

Austenitic stainless steels are widely used as structural materials in high-field
superconducting magnet systems due to their favorable mechanical properties over the
whole temperature operating range of the magnets. They are nevertheless susceptible to
martensitic transformations, especially at cryogenic temperatures. In particular, they are
prone to strain-induced α′-martensitic transformation, which affects the material's
properties, causes a change in volume and additional strain hardening, and results in the …