• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.305-316
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• 2017

Austenitic stainless steels have been widely used for various systems of nuclear power plants. Among these stainless steels, small pipes with diameter less than 14 inch have been produced in the form of seamless pipe. Annealing and cooling process during the manufacturing process can affect corrosion properties of seamless stainless steels. Therefore, 12 inch-diameter of as-received 304L stainless steel pipe was annealed and aged in this study. Intergranular corrosion resistance was evaluated by ASTM A262 Practice A, C, and E methods. The degree of sensitization was determined using a DL-EPR test. U-bend method in an autoclave was used to evaluate the SCC resistance in 0.01 M $Na_2S_4O_6$ or 40% NaOH solution at $340^{\circ}C$. As-received specimen showed relatively high degree of sensitization and intergranular corrosion rate. Carbon segregation was also observed near grain boundaries. Annealing treatment could give the dissolution of segregated carbon into the matrix. Aging treatment could induce segregation of carbon and finally form carbides. Microstructural analysis confirmed that high intergranular corrosion rate of the as-received seamless pipe was due to micro-galvanic corrosion between carbon segregation and grains.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2022

Erosion-corrosion behaviors of Hadfield steel under a neutral aqueous environment with fine SiO₂ particles were examined and compared with those of conventional carbon steel. A range of electrochemical experiments (potentiodynamic polarization, linear polarization, and impedance), immersion test, and slurry pot test (i.e., erosion-corrosion test) were performed. Results showed that the Hadfield steel composed of austenitic matrix with (Fe,Mn)-based carbide had lower corrosion potential and higher corrosion current density than carbon steel with a typical ferrite/pearlite structure. In addition, pipe forming increased total corrosion rates (i.e., pure corrosion and erosion-enhanced corrosion rates). Nevertheless, the erosion-corrosion rate of Hadfield steel was much smaller. Morphological observation showed that local damage in the form of a crater by erosion-corrosion was more noticeable in carbon steel. The higher resistance of Hadfield steel to erosion-corrosion was attributed to its lower total erosion rates (i.e., pure erosion and corrosion-enhanced erosion rates) highly depending on surface hardness. This study suggests that Hadfield steel with higher resistances to flowing erosion-corrosion in an aqueous environment can be applied widely to various industrial fields.