• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.230-241
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• 2022

Austenitic stainless steel has been widely used because of its good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. However, intergranular corrosion can occur if the alloy is welded or aged. The objective of this study was to determine intergranular corrosion behaviors of austenitic medium carbon (0.05 wt%) and low carbon (0.02 wt%) stainless steel aged at several conditions. Alloys were evaluated according to ASTM A262 Practice A, ISO 12732 DL-EPR (double loop-electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation) test, and ASTM A262 Practice C. The degree of sensitization and intergranular corrosion rate were obtained. The relationship between the degree of sensitization and the intergranular corrosion rate showed a very large fluctuation. Such behavior might be related to whether two-dimension tests or three-dimension tests were performed. On the other hand, regardless of carbon content of alloys, when the intergranular corrosion rate increased, the degree of sensitization also increased. However, the DL-EPR test showed a higher sensitivity than the Huey test for differentiating the intergranular corrosion property at a low intergranular corrosion rate, while the Huey test had a higher sensitivity than the DL-EPR test for distinguishing the intergranular corrosion property at a high intergranular corrosion rate.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

Stainless steel can be classified into three categories depending on the microstructure as austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel and martensitic stainless steel. Generally, stainless steel is extremely resistant to corrosion as the name implies. However, under specific environments, susceptibility to localized corrosion such as pitting, intergranular corrosion and stress corrosion cracking increases. This paper reviewed the state of arts on intergranular corrosion mechanisms, countermeasures on intergranular corrosion and intergranular corrosion test methods. Intergranular corrosion is mostly related with chromium depletion at the grain boundary and sometimes with segregation of electroactive elements in solution annealed stainless steel. Countermeasures on intergranular corrosion include avoiding chromium depletion by heat treatment and the addition of alloying elements. Sensitization evaluation of stainless steel was performed either through acid immersion test or electrochemical test. The methods were standardized in (Japanese Industrial Standards). Even though are useful in evaluating the degree of sensitization for industrial purpose but do not provide detailed information about sensitization mechanism, cause and chromium profile.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2021

In oxidizing nitric acid solutions, stainless steel undergoes intergranular corrosion accompanied by grain dropping and changes in the corrosion rate. For the safe operation of reprocessing plants, this mechanism should be understood. In this study, we constructed a three-dimensional computational model using a cellular automata method to simulate the intergranular corrosion propagation of stainless steel. The computational model was constructed of three types of cells: grain (bulk), grain boundary (GB), and solution cells. Model simulations verified the relationship between surface roughness during corrosion and dispersion of the dissolution rate of the GB. The relationship was investigated by simulation applying a constant dissolution rate and a distributed dissolution rate of the GB cells. The distribution of the dissolution rate of the GB cells was derived from the intergranular corrosion depth obtained by corrosion tests. The constant dissolution rate of the GB was derived from the average dissolution rate. Surface roughness calculated by the distributed dissolution rates of the GBs of the model was greater than the constant dissolution rates of the GBs. The cross-sectional images obtained were comparable to the corrosion test results. These results indicate that the surface roughness during corrosion is associated with the distribution of the corrosion rate.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.196-204
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• 2012

Corrosion failure of petrochemical facilities is one of the difficulties in maintenance, since operating conditions of crude oil production, storage, and refinement are very aggressive. UNS N08810, which has been used for crude oil transportation pipes and storage tanks in petrochemical industries, shows good resistance to general corrosion and localized corrosion in several environments. Among its environments, UNS N08810 showed better corrosion resistance in fuel gas containing sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and sulfur. However, ductility and toughness at high temperature over about $500^{\circ}C$ were greatly reduced due to microstructural change. In general, welding process is the representative method to join the parts in industrial components. Because the alloy by welding can be sensitized and corroded, the manufacturing process should be controlled. In this work, UNS N08810 was used and heat treatment conditions including solution and stabilization treatments were controlled. Oxalic acid etch test by ASTM A262 Practice A was done to evaluate the qualitative sensitization in room temperature. Huey test by ASTM A262 Practice C was done to evaluate the intergranular corrosion rate in boiling 65% $HNO_3$ solution. Also, the microstructure by thermal history was analyzed. Experimental alloy showed high intergranular corrosion rate and its corrosion mechanism was elucidated.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2003

Stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 has been studied with a C-ring specimen in 1%, 10% and 40% NaOH at $315^{\circ}C$. SCC test was performed at 200 mV above corrosion potential. Initial stress on the apex of C-ring specimen was varied from 300 MPa to 565 MPa. Materials were heat treated at various temperatures. SCC resistance of Ni-$_\chi$Cr-10Fe alloy increased as the Cr content of the alloy increased if the density of an intergranular carbide were comparable. SCC resistance of Alloy 600 increased in caustic solution as the product of coverage of an intergranular carbide in grain boundary, intergranular carbide thickness and Cr concentration at grain boundary increased. Low temperature mill annealed Alloy 600 with small grain size and without intergranular carbide was most susceptible to SCC. TT Alloy 690 was most resistant to SCC due to the high value of the product of coverage of an intergranular carbide in grain boundary, intergranular carbide thickness and Cr concentration at grain boundary. Dependency of SCC rate on stress and NaOH concentration was obtained.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.350-359
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• 2004

Stress corrosion cracking(SCC) characteristics of shot-peened stainless steel containing Ti (0.09 wt%-0.92 wt%) fabricated by the vacuum furnace were investigated using SCC tester and potentiostat. The homogenization and the sensitization treatment were carried out at $1050^{\circ}C$ for 1hr and $650^{\circ}C$ for 5 hr. The samples for SCC were shot-peened using $\Phi$0.6 mm steel ball for 4 min and 10 min. Intergranular and pitting corrosion characteristics were investigated by using EPR and CPPT. SCC test was carried out at the condition of$ 288^{\circ}C$, 90 kgf pressure, water with 8 ppm dissolved oxygen, and $8.3xl0^{-7}$/s strain rate. After the corrosion and see test, the surface of the tested specimen was observed by the optical microscope, TEM and SEM. Specimen with Ti/C ratio of 6.14 showed high tensile strength at the sensitization treatment. The tensile strength decreased with the increase of the Ti/C ratio. Pitting and intergranular corrosion resistance increased with the increase of Ti/C ratio. Stress corrosion cracking strength of shot-peened specimen was higher than that of non shot- peened specimen. Stress corrosion cracking strength decreased with the increase of the Ti/C ratio.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.709-715
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• 2006

The effects of thermal cycle condition and applied stress on the intergranular corrosion in austenitic 316 type stainless steels were investigated. Specimens were solution-treated at 1100$^{\circ}C$ for one hour and then sensitized in the temperature range of $500{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ by holding $2{\sim}300s$ with a various applied stresses of $0{\sim}8kg/mm^2$. Degree of sensitization. DOS %, was measured through polarization curve by electrochemical DL-EPR test. Microstructural observations were also conducted DOS % increased with an increase of sensitization temperature and/or holding time. Increase of applied stress resulted in increase of DOS % and more corroded surface because of acceleration of intergranular corrosion and fine grain size due to the stress. Cr depleted zone near grain boundary was observed. The amount of depletion was profounded with an increase of sensitization temperature, holding time and applied stress. $M_{23}C_6$ carbides were precipitated discontinuously at grain boundary. However, its amount was relatively small in the thermal cycle condition of 800$^{\circ}C$, 300sec and 4kg/mm$^2$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2020

To elucidate the effect of heat inputs on phase transformation and resistance to intergranular corrosion of F316 austenitic stainless steel (ASS), thermodynamic calculations of each phase and time-temperature-transformation diagram were conducted using JMaPro simulation software, oxalic acid etch test, double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test (DL-EPR), field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses of Cr carbide (Cr₂₃C₆), austenite phase and ferrite phase. F316 ASS containing a relatively low C content of 0.043 wt% showed a slightly sensitized microstructure (acceptably dual structure) due to a small amount of Cr carbide precipitated at heat affected zone irrespective of heat inputs. Based on results of DL-EPR test, although heat input was increased, the ratio of I_r to I_a was only increased very slightly due to a slight sensitization. Therefore, heat inputs have little influences on resistance to intergranular corrosion of F316 austenitic stainless steel containing 0.043 wt% C.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.250-254
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• 2002

Intergranular corrosion of austenitic stainless steels is a conventional and momentous problem during welding and high temperature use. One of the major reasons for such intergranular corrosion is so-called sensitization, i.e., chromium depletion due to chromium carbide precipitation at grain boundaries. Conventional methods for preventing sensitization of austenitic stainless steels include reduction of carbon content in the material, stabilization of carbon atoms as non-chromium carbides by the addition of titanium, niobium or zirconium, local solution-heat-treatment by laser beam, etc. These methods, however, are not without drawbacks. Recent grain boundary structure studies have demonstrated that grain boundary phenomena strongly depend on the crystallographic nature and atomic structure of the grain boundary, and that grain boundaries with coincidence site lattices are immune to intergranular corrosion. The concept of "grain boundary design and control", which involves a desirable grain boundary character distribution, has been developed as grain boundary engineering. The feasibility of grain boundary engineering has been demonstrated mainly by thermomechanical treatments. In the present study, a thermomechanical treatment was tried to improve the resistance to the sensitization by grain boundary engineering. A type 304 austenitic stainless steel was pre-strained and heat-treated, and then sensitized, varying the parameters (pre-strain, temperature, time, etc.) during the thermomechanical treatment. The grain boundary character distribution was examined by orientation imaging microscopy. The intergranular corrosion resistance was evaluated by electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation and ferric sulfate-sulfuric acid tests. The sensitivity to intergranular corrosion was reduced by the thermomechanical treatment and indicated a minimum at a small roll-reduction. The frequency of coincidence-site-lattice boundaries indicated a maximum at a small strain. The ferric sulfate-sulfuric acid test showed much smaller corrosion rate in the thermomechanically-treated specimen than in the base material. An excellent intergranular corrosion resistance was obtained by a small strain annealing at a relatively low temperature for long time. The optimum parameters created a uniform distribution of a high frequency of coincidence site lattice boundaries in the specimen where corrosive random boundaries were isolated. The results suggest that the thermomechanical treatment can introduce low energy segments in the grain boundary network by annealing twins and can arrest the percolation of intergranular corrosion from the surface.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.288-291
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• 1998

Inconel 600 alloy is used as the material of nuclear steam generator tubing because of its mechanical properties, formability, and corrosion properties. According to reports, the life time of nuclear power plants decreases because of the pitting, intergranular attack, primary water stress corrosion cracking(PWSCC), and intergranular stress corrosion cracking(IGSCC), and denting in the steam generator. The SCC test is very important because of SCC appears in various environment such as solutions, materials, and stress. The C-Rig specimen was made of the steam generator welded sleeve repairing by the pulsed Nd:YAG laser. In the corrosion invironment, corrosion solutions are Primary Water, Caustic, and Sulfate solution and corrosion time is 1624-4877hr. The permitted stress is 30-60ksi.In this C-Ring SCC test is the relationship between corrosion depth, crack and corrosion environment is evaluated. SCC was happens in Sulfate and Corrosion solution but doesn't happen in Primary Water. The corrosion time and stress is very affected by the severely environment of Sulfate or Caustic solution. The microstructure observation indicates that SCC causes interganular failure in the grain boundary of vertical direction.