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Effect of Isothermal Ageing on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Nickel and Molybdenum-Free High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

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Abstract

This study investigates the influence of isothermal ageing (550–850 °C) and time (30, 60, 180, 360, 720, and 1440 minutes) on microstructure and corrosion behavior of nickel and molybdenum-free high nitrogen austenitic stainless-steel (HNASS). In solution-annealed conditions, the HNASS has a single-phase austenite structure with annealed twins at the grain boundaries. HNASS treated to the aging range at lower temperatures and shorter duration resulted in various fine, discrete, and globular chromium-nitride (Cr2N) precipitation at grain boundaries. Whereas increased aging temperature and prolonged exposure duration led to the lamellar Cr2N pearlite-like microstructure formed within the austenite grain when treated at 650 °C, 750 °C, and 850 °C after 360 min, 180 min, and 60 min, respectively. The data obtained in potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) studies show a higher susceptibility to pitting and intergranular corrosion (IGC) with increased aging temperature and exposure duration. However, resistance to IGC and pitting corrosion of HNASS is correlated with the shape and size of Cr2N precipitation formed at the grain boundaries and extended into the matrix. The U-bend stress corrosion cracking (SCC) studies showed that the HNASS specimen aged at 750 °C for 1 hour showed no visible cracks. However, some random pit initiation and growth were observed over a period of time when exposed for 150 hours to boiling MgCl2 solution.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank the Director of NIT Andhra Pradesh for providing funds under the Research Seed Grant (RSG) for this study. The authors thank Dr. G Madhusudhan Reddy, Former Director, DMRL, for his continuous support and encouragement in the work.

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  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh, Tadepalligudem, A.P., 534101, India

    Surjan Sheik & Raffi Mohammed

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Sheik, S., Mohammed, R. Effect of Isothermal Ageing on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Nickel and Molybdenum-Free High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel. J. of Materi Eng and Perform (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-024-09787-8

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