Effect of grain refinement and precipitates coupling on intergranular corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel

doi:10.13251/j.issn.0254-6051.2025.04.021

Abstract

Abstract: Microstructure of 304 stainless steel was nanostructured by using cryogenic rolling combined with reverse phase transformation annealing, and the synergistic effect of precipitates and grain size factors on the intergranular corrosion performance of the 304 stainless steel was studied by means of electron back-scattered diffraction, electron probe micro analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the initial grain size of the cryogenic rolling tested steel after annealing at 700 ℃ for 20, 60 and 120 min is 0.34, 0.67 and 1.12 μm, respectively. There are a large amount of Cr-rich carbide precipitates in the three annealed specimens, which are M₂₃C₆ precipitates. The three annealed specimens are sensitized at 650 ℃ for 2 h, and then immersed in a slightly boiling H₂SO₄-CuSO₄ solution for 16 h. The nano/ultrafine grained 304 stainless steel annealed at 700 ℃ for 20 min exhibits similar intergranular corrosion resistance compared to the micron grained steel prepared at the same temperature. The reason of which is that the precipitation of Cr-rich carbides formed in the initial structure greatly weakens the positive effect of grain refinement on the intergranular corrosion resistance of the material.

Key words: 304 strainless steel, grain refinement, intergranular corrosion, cryogenic rolling, annealing, Cr-rich carbide

CLC Number:

TG178

Qi Xiangyu, Zhao Miaomiao, Du Linxiu, Yan Ling. Effect of grain refinement and precipitates coupling on intergranular corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2025, 50(4): 149-155.

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