The stacking fault energy of austenitic stainless steels was determined using a quantum mechanical first-principles approach. The electronic, magnetic and volume effects responsible for the compositional dependence of the stacking fault energy were identified. It was found that both the alloying element and the composition of the host material were important for understanding the alloying effects. The results showed that no simple and universally valid composition equations existed for the stacking fault energy.

Alloying Effects on the Stacking Fault Energy in Austenitic Stainless Steels from First-Principles Theory. L.Vitos, J.O.Nilsson, B.Johansson: Acta Materialia, 2006, 54[14], 3821-6

Figure 1

Diffusivity of 54Mn in D9 Alloy

(a: vacuum-annealed, b: cold-worked)