Abstract: In the hot forming of Mn18Cr18N steel, such problems as easy cracking, difficult controlling of forming paramenters often occur. In this paper,the variation rule of the plasticity of the steel, the starting mechanism of micro-crack and its generating characteristics were studied with the combination of thermodynamic simulation test, micro-simulation and FEM, the related data of microstructure change and hot forming parameters were produced. The hot forming process of 600MW generator retaining ring was analyzed as an example.

Key words: Mn18Cr18N, hot forming, FEM numerical simulation