Vacuum Rolling Austenitic Corrosion-Resistant Alloy Composite Steel Plate

Heterogeneous metal composite plates come in a wide variety of types and have found broad applications due to their high market demand. Among these, austenitic corrosion-resistant alloy/low-alloy composite plates are the most widely used category. The composite interface plays a critical role in the manufacturing of composite plates, serving as the key site for internal load transfer, micro-scale stress–strain interactions, plastic deformation, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and other physical and mechanical properties [1]. Accordingly, this chapter focuses on corrosion-resistant alloy composite plates—including stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and super-austenitic stainless steels—and provides a detailed overview of their preparation using vacuum rolling cladding (VRC) technology. The discussion covers surface preparation, welding encapsulation, thermal processing, rolling procedures, heat treatment, and associated process optimization research. An in-depth analysis is also conducted on interfacial inclusions, element diffusion behavior, the effects of brittle phases on interface performance, and the formation and evolution mechanisms of inclusions and brittle phases during heating and rolling. These investigations aim to reveal the influence of composite processing on the interfacial microstructure and mechanical properties. In addition, this chapter provides a detailed account of the trial production and industrial manufacturing of representative austenitic corrosion-resistant alloy composite plates.