skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: The effect of nitrogen on the sensitization of AISI 304 stainless steel

Journal Article · · Corrosion (Houston); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/1.3582983· OSTI ID:6303744

Thermodynamic calculations have been used to construct time temperature sensitization (TTS) diagrams for AISI 304 stainless steels (SS). The quantitative Stawstrom and Hillert model, which is based on chromium diffusion control of sensitization, was used to calculate the TTS diagrams. Electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) tests were performed on these steels, with various nitrogen additions, to obtain the experimental TTS curves. The calculated and experimental TTS diagrams have been compared to better understand nitrogen addition effects on the sensitization kinetics of AISI 304 SS. These results indicate that nitrogen additions below 0.16 wt% retard the sensitization kinetics; one possible mechanism by which this is achieved is an increase in chromium concentration adjacent to the grain boundaries, which decreases the chromium concentration gradient between the austenite matrix and the grain boundaries and hence retards carbide growth.

Research Organization:
Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
OSTI ID:
6303744
Journal Information:
Corrosion (Houston); (United States), Vol. 41:10
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English