Effects of Aging and W Addition on the Corrosion Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Fe-Cr-Mn-N Stainless Steels

The characteristics of the mechanical properties and sensitization behaviors in Fe-Cr-Mn stainless steels by W addition and aging treatment were studied. Yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and impact energy decreased, and hardness increased slightly by aging treatment. W-containing alloys showed especially a larger degree of brittle characteristics due to the hard chi(χ) phase formed from the decomposition of ferrite. Carbides precipitated in grain boundary had a bad effect on impact energy rather than on strength and hardness. Ni addition suppressed the formation of ferrite and resulted in some improvement of mechanical properties. Anodic polarization tests showed that the corrosion resistance of aged alloys decreased by the formation of carbides and secondary austenite. It was observed that W addition made no improvement of the pitting potential and passive current density of aged alloys in the HCI solution. But Ni and W decreased critical current density in the sulfuric acid and made easier formation of passive film, contributing to corrosion resistance. From the results of EPR (Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation). DOS (Degree of Sensitization) increased with aging time and carbides and ferrite were preferentially attacked. It was observed that Ni delayed the sensitization. It can be concluded from the previous results that the selective dissolution of ferrite is due to the ferrite decomposition to chi (χ) phase and secondary austenite. In the secondary austenite. Cr and W which are known to improve the corrosion resistance were depleted. Therefore, it seems that ferrite phase became sensitive to corrosion