Intergranular corrosion behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

The intergranular corrosion (IGC) behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel (HNSS) sensitization treated at 650–950°C was investigated by the double loop electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (DL-EPR) method. The effects of the electrolytes, scan rate, sensitizing temperature on the susceptibility to IGC of HNSS were examined. The results show that the addition of NaCl is an effective way to improve the formation of the cracking of a passive film in chromium-depleted zones during the reactivation scan. Decreasing the scan rate exhibits an obvious effect on the breakdown of the passive film. A solution with 2 mol/L H₂SO₄+1 mol/L NaCl+0.01 mol/L KSCN is suitable to check the susceptibility to IGC of HNSS at a sensitizing temperature of 650–950°C at a suitable scan rate of 1.667 mV/s. Chromium depletion of HNSS is attributed to the precipitation of Cr₂N which results in the susceptibility to IGC. The synergistic effect of Mo and N is suggested to play an important role in stabilizing the passive film to prevent the attack of IGC.