Evaluation of thermal aging embrittlement of duplex stainless steels by electrochemical method
- Korea Advanced Inst. of Science and Technology, Taejon (Korea, Republic of). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
Cast duplex stainless steels composed of austenite and ferrite phases have several superior properties due to the presence of ferrite phase, and are used for fabricating important components whose integrity is vital for the safe operation of certain nuclear power plant systems. It has been known, however, that these materials suffer a loss of toughness when exposed to the operating temperature of nuclear power reactors over a long period, and that the embrittlement of the ferrite phase due to spinodal decomposition (SD) is the main cause of thermal aging embrittlement of duplex stainless steels. The purpose of the present study is to develop an electrochemical method by which thermal aging embrittlement of duplex stainless steels can be evaluated nondestructively. By polarization experiments in H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution containing 0.005M KSCN, the embrittlement of ferrite phase, the main cause of thermal aging embrittlement of duplex stainless steels, was detected and the correlation between microhardness and electrochemical property changes was obtained.
- OSTI ID:
- 55422
- Journal Information:
- Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia, Journal Name: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 32; ISSN SCRMEX; ISSN 0956-716X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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