Abstract Pitting corrosion resistance of two austenitic stainless steels, 18Cr8Ni (Type 304L or UNS S30403 stainless steel) and 17Cr6Mn5Ni, was evaluated in three electrolytic solutions containing a fixed concentration of 0.6M sodium chloride and different additions of sodium sulfate, 0.06M, 0.15M or 0.6M. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed on as-received samples and on specimens annealed at 1010°C, 1040°C, 1070°C or 1100°C. The best pitting corrosion resistance was presented by the 17Cr6Mn5Ni steel annealed at 1070°C or 1100°C, with lower delta ferrite contents, in the electrolyte with the highest sulfate concentration. It can be found that the addition of sodium sulfate inhibits pitting corrosion and has a better inhibitor effect in the high manganese steel.

The effect of aging temperature on mechanical and pitting corrosion properties of UNS S46500 was investigated. Tensile and Hardness tests were carried out and the microstructure was analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction; Thermo-Calc simulations helped in the phase identification. Pitting corrosion properties were investigated in 0.6M NaCl electrolyte with sulfate additions by Potentiodynamic Polarization (PP). Hardness, tensile and yield strength of the UNS S46500 steel after lower aging temperature, 510ºC (H950), are higher than the ones found in the 538ºC (H1000) aged steel.This result is explained by microstructure, X-ray diffraction and Thermo-Calc analysis, which indicated the presence of austenite, chi phase and probably Ni3Ti precipitates finely and uniform distributed throughout the martensite matrix. Pitting corrosion resistance is equivalent in both aging temperatures. The sulfate inhibitor effect on UNS S46500 steel was enhanced for 538ºC condition when the electrolyte reaches 1Cl-:1SO4 2- ratio, which is explained by Ni sulfate adsorption and the amount of interfaces in the microstructure resulting in smaller amount of adsorption sites, such as coarsened Ni3Ti precipitates, smaller fraction of chi phase and recovery of dislocations in martensite structure.

The degradation of AISI 304L stainless steel under static corrosion, liquid impingement and corrosion-erosion was studied using polarization curves. Static corrosion and liquid impingement tests were performed in 3.5% NaCl solution. Corrosion-erosion tests were performed in the same solution, containing 10 wt-% of three different SiO2 particle sizes. Synergism between erosion and corrosion was correlated to shifts in the polarization curves. The passive current densities increased and the pitting potential decreased for liquid impingement and with addition of SiO2 particles to the electrolyte. Increasing the particle size led to a greater increase in the current densities, although the pitting potential did not significantly changed. The effects of erosion on corrosion are discussed in terms of the passive film breakdown and reformation.

Este documento presenta los resultados de una investigación sobre la influencia del Mn en solución sólida sobre la resistencia a la corrosión por picadura de dos aceros inoxidables austeníticos, uno denominado 17Cr6Mn5Ni y un acero comercial UNS S304L utilizado como material de referencia. Fueron usadas soluciones electrolíticas de 0,6M NaCl en tres diferentes condiciones de concentración de oxígeno (solución desaireada, naturalmente aireada y aireada artificialmente). El desempeño de cada condición fue medido a través de ensayos de polarización potenciodinámica y mediante exámenes metalográficos. Se determinaron los potenciales de corrosión (Ecorr) y de picadura (Ep). La concentración de oxígeno en la solución electrolítica influenció el parámetro Ecorr, pero no el Ep. El manganeso en solución sólida beneficia la absorción de iones Cl- en aceros inoxidables austeníticos, ejerciendo por tanto un efecto negativo en cuanto a resistencia a corrosión por picadura. A través de datos experimentales de energía libre de Gibbs de formación de compuestos (ΔG°) y de la teoría de absorción competitiva, fue propuesto un mecanismo para explicar este fenómeno.

In this research are shown the results about the study of the influence of manganese in solid solution on the pitting corrosión resistance of austenitic stainless steels, a steel is referred to as 17Cr6Mn5Ni and the UNS S304L steel as benchmarking material. Electrolytic solution containing 0.6M NaCl in three different oxygen concentration were used (aerated, non aerated and naturally aerated). The behavior of each condition was measured through potentiodynamic polarization tests and metallographic examinations. The values of corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting potential (Ep) were determined. The oxygen concentration of the electrolytic solution influenced the Ecorr but not the Ep parameter. Manganese in solid solution benefits the Cl- ions absorption in austenitic stainless steels. Therefore, causes negative effect on pitting corrosion resistance. A mechanism was proposed through the standard Gibbs free energy of formation of compounds (ΔG°) data, and through the competitive absorption theory.

Este documento apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa sobre a influencia do Mn em solução sólida sobre a resistência à corrosão por pite de aços inoxidáveis austeníticos, um denominado 17Cr6Mn5Ni e um aço comercial UNS S304L utilizado como material de referencia. Foram usadas soluções electrolíticas de 0,6M NaCl em três diferentes condições de concentração de oxigênio (solução desaerada, naturalmente aerada e aerada artificialmente). O desempenho de cada condição foi medido a través de testes de polarização potenciodinâmica e mediante exames metalográficos. Determinaram-se os potencias de corrosão (Ecorr) e de pite (Ep). A concentração de oxigênio na solução eletrolítica influenciou o parâmetro Ecorr, mas não o Ep. O manganês em solução sólida beneficia a absorção de íons Cl- em aços inoxidáveis austeníticos, exercendo, portanto um efeito negativo quanto à resistência à corrosão por pite. Através de dados experimentais de energia livre de Gibbs de formação de compostos (ΔG°) e da teoria de absorção competitiva, foi proposto um mecanismo para explicar este fenômeno.

O presente trabalho avaliou a resistência à corrosão localizada de dois aços inoxidáveis austeníticos utilizados na fabricação de implantes ortopédicos: o aço ASTM F138, material metálico atualmente mais utilizado em aplicações ortopédicas e o aço ISO 5832-9, aço com adição de nióbio e nitrogênio e que vem sendo apontado como uma alternativa para a substituição do aço F138, para aplicações mais severas de carregamento e tempo de permanência no interior do corpo humano. Ensaios de polarização mostraram que o aço ISO 5832-9 apresenta resistência à corrosão localizada muito superior à do aço F138. O potencial crítico de pite do aço ISO 5832-9 não foi observado na curva de polarização cíclica até o potencial de transpassivação do material. O ensaio potenciostático de corrosão por risco confirmou a superioridade do aço ISO 5832-9. Observou-se a reconstituição do filme passivo danificado mecanicamente, mesmo em potenciais tão elevados como 800 mV SCE. Análises por microscopia eletrônica de varredura confirmaram a presença de pites de corrosão de crescimento estável, na superfície da amostra de aço F 138, e a ausência desses pites, na amostra do aço ISO 5832-9. A maior resistência à corrosão localizada do aço ISO 5832-9 é, principalmente, atribuída ao aumento da estabilidade do filme passivo, sendo favorecida pela presença do nitrogênio em solução sólida intersticial, na austenita desse aço.

Potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization measurements were conducted in 0.9% NaCl solution to investigate the localized corrosion susceptibility of two austenitic stainless steel biomaterials: a low nitrogen, according to ASTM F 138 - the metallic material most widely utilized today in orthopedic applications; and a nitrogen- and niobium-bearing stainless steel, according to ISO 5832-9, which has shown a promising potential as a substitute of the F 138 steel for more severe loading applications and longer times inside the human body. The polarization tests revealed that the ISO 5832-9 steel is more corrosion resistant than the F 138. The critical pitting potential of the ISO 5832-9 steel could not be observed in the cyclic polarization curve up to the value of potential corresponding to its transpassivity. The potentiostatic scratch test confirmed the superiority of the ISO 5832-9 steel, which heal the mechanically damaged passive film at applied potential as high as 800 mV (SCE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination confirmed the presence of corrosion pits - lacelike pits - in a stable growth stage on the surface of F 138 steel and the absence of such pits in the specimens of the ISO 5832-9 steel. The higher corrosion resistance of the latter is attributed to the increased stability of the passive film and the high tendency to repassivate, which, in turn, is favored by the presence of nitrogen in interstitial solid solution in the austenite of this type of steel.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar o efeito do teor de carbono e nitrogênio em aços inoxidáveis ferríticos com 17%Cr (16%Cr-0,04%C-0,032%N; 17,2%Cr-0,02%C-0,0062%N; 18,5%Cr-0,008%C-0,0213%N) sobre o grau de sensitização (GS). Os aços foram solubilizados a 1200°C e resfriados em água. Tratamentos isotérmicos foram realizados a 600°C entre 5 minutos e 16 horas. Foi realizado o ensaio de reativação eletroquímica potenciodinâmica de ciclo duplo (DL-EPR) em solução 0,5M H2SO4 a (25 ± 2)°C. O GS foi medido através da relação entre as densidades de correntes anódicas máximas nas etapas de reversão, i r, e ativação, i a. O exame microestrutural dos corpos-de-prova foi realizado nos microscópios óptico e eletrônico de varredura após ataque metalográfico com reagente Vilella. Os resultados mostram variação do GS com o tempo. Um máximo de GS foi obtido para cada aço e, posteriormente, foi observada diminuição do GS. A intensidade do GS e o tempo de ocorrência variaram em função dos teores de carbono e nitrogênio nos aços.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of carbon and nitrogen in 17%Cr ferritic stainless steels (16%Cr-0.04%C-0.032%N; 17.2%Cr-0.02%C-0.0062%N; 18.5%Cr-0.008%C-0.0213%N) on the degree of sensitization (DOS). These steels were solution annealed at 1200°C and quenched in water. Isothermal treatments were carried out at 600°C between 5 minutes and 16 hours. The Double Loop Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation test (DL-EPR) was carried out in a 0.5M H2SO4 solution at (25 ± 2)°C. The DOS was evaluated using a ratio between maximum anodic current density in reversion, i r, and activation, i a. The microstructural examination of specimens was carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy after metallographic etching with Vilella's reagent. The results showed a DOS variation with time. Maximum values of DOS were obtained for each steel, followed by its reduction. The intensity of DOS and its kinetics vary in function of the carbon and nitrogen content in steels.

We investigated the effect of surface finish of two AISI 304L (UNS S30403) stainless steels on the corrosion potential (Ecorr) in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution and its value was compared with the pitting potential (Ep) value and the type of anodic potentiodynamic curve obtained for determination of Ep in this solution. Five different surface finishes were examined. Ecorr and its standard deviation are strongly affected by the type of surface finish. Moreover, there are evidences of a linear correlation between Ecorr and Ep, as well as between the percentage of anodic curves with a well-defined pitting potential and the uncertainty in the determination of Ecorr.

The influence of niobium on corrosion resistance to 0.5M H2SO4 of 17% Cr ferritic stainless steels, to which it was added in amounts larger than that necessary to stabilize the interstitial elements, was investigated. Their performance was compared to that of other two Fe-17%Cr alloys, one without additions and another containing 0.93% molybdenum. Through weight and electrochemical measurements and through morphologic examination of corroded surface it was found that the corrosion of these alloys, with the exception of that containing molybdenum, proceeds in two different steps. In the first step (up to about 60 min) the corrosion rate practically does not change with time, the lower rates being displayed by alloys containing larger amounts of Nb. In the second stage the corrosion rate increases with time. The corrosion rate of Mo containing alloy is constant for all times.