Premium
Analysis of intergranular corrosion attack on stainless steels by means of atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy. Part 1: Influence of heat treatment
Author(s) -
Barkleit G.,
Schlueter B.,
Schneider F.,
Mummert K.,
Muraleedharan P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
materials and corrosion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.487
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1521-4176
pISSN - 0947-5117
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-4176(200002)51:2<109::aid-maco109>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - intergranular corrosion , optical microscope , grain boundary , materials science , corrosion , metallurgy , atomic force microscopy , microscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , microstructure , scanning electron microscope , composite material , optics , chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , chromatography
The aim of this study is to quantify intergranular corrosion attack of heat treated low carbon austenitic stainless steel caused by segregation processes of P (0.2 at% P) by different methods. After nitric acid chromate test the intensity of intergranular corrosion attack was investigated by weight loss measurements as well as determination of depths of grooves by both the optical microscopy and AFM measurements. Generally, the largest attack of corrosion is noticed on samples heat treated at 550 °C. Results of weight loss include the corrosion of matrix, inhomogenities and grain boundaries. The depths of corrosion attack were determined by optical microscope on cross sections. This method can not distinguish between attacks at grain boundaries and attack of inhomogenities. Whereas, measurements of depths by line profiling of AFM‐surface images is related to grain boundary attack directly. The weight loss measurements as well as the optical microscopy and AFM‐measurements were compared for tested heat treatment conditions. It is concluded that the use of the AFM offers an advantageous method for quantifying intergranular attack.