Pitting corrosion and crevice corrosion behaviors of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels

Pitting corrosion and crevice corrosion behaviors of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels （HNSS） were investigated by electrochemical and immersion testing methods in chloride solution, respectively. The chemical constitution and composition in the depth of passive films formed on HNSS were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectrum （XPS）. HNSS has excellent pitting and crevice corrosion resistance compared to 316L stainless steel. With increasing the nitrogen content in steels, pitting potentials and critical pitting temperature （CPT） increase, and the maximum, average pit depths and average weight loss decrease. The CPT of HNSS is correlated with the alloying element content through the measure of alloying for resistance to corrosion （MARC）. The MARC can be expressed as an equation of CPT=2.55MARC-29. XPS results show that HNSS exhibiting excellent corrosion resistance is attributed to the enrichment of nitrogen on the surface of passive films, which forms ammonium ions increasing the local pH value and facilitating repassivation, and the synergistic effects of molybdenum and nitrogen.

High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steels Manufactured by Nitrogen Gas Alloying and Adding Nitrided Ferroalloys

A simple and feasible method for the production of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels involves nitrogen gas alloying and adding nitrided ferroalloys under normal atmospheric conditions. Alloying by nitrogen gas bubbling in Fe-Cr-Mn-Mo series alloys was carried out in MoSi2 resistance furnace and air induction furnace under normal atmospheric conditions. The results showed that nitrogen alloying could be accelerated by increasing nitrogen gas flow rate, prolonging residence time of bubbles, increasing gas/molten steel interfaces, and decreasing the sulphur and oxygen contents in molten steel. Nitrogen content of 0.69% in 18Crl8Mn was obtained using air induction furnace by bubbling of nitrogen gas from porous plug. In addition, the nickel-free, high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels with sound and compact macrostructure had been produced in the laboratory using vacuum induction furnace and electroslag remelting furnace under nitrogen atmosphere by the addition of nitrided alloy with the maximum nitrogen content of 0.81%. Pores were observed in the ingots obtained by melting and casting in vacuum induction furnace with the addition of nitrided ferroalloys and under nitrogen atmosphere. After electroslag remelting of the cast ingots, they were all sound and were free of pores. The yield of nitrogen increased with the decrease of melting rate in the ESR process. Due to electroslag remelting under nitrogen atmosphere and the consequential addition of aluminum as deoxidizer to the slag, the loss of manganese decreased obviously. There existed mainly irregular Al2O3 inclusions and MnS inclusions in ESR ingots, and the size of most of the inclusions was less than 5 um. After homogenization of the hot rolled plate at 1 150℃ × 1 h followed by water quenching, the microstructure consisted of homogeneous austenite.

Intergranular corrosion behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

The intergranular corrosion （IGC） behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel （HNSS） sensitization treated at 650-950℃ was investigated by the double loop electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation （DL-EPR） method. The effects of the electrolytes, scan rate, sensitizing temperature on the susceptibility to IGC of HNSS were examined. The results show that the addi-tion of NaCl is an effective way to improve the formation of the cracking of a passive film in chromium-depleted zones during the reactivation scan. Decreasing the scan rate exhibits an obvious effect on the breakdown of the passive film. A solution with 2 mol/L H2SO4＋1 mol/L NaCl＋0.01 mol/L KSCN is suitable to check the susceptibility to IGC of HNSS at a sensitizing temperature of 650-950℃ at a suitable scan rate of 1.667 mV/s. Chromium depletion of HNSS is attributed to the precipitation of Cr2N which results in the susceptibility to IGC. The synergistic effect of Mo and N is suggested to play an important role in stabilizing the passive film to prevent the attack of IGC.

PRECIPITATION BEHAVIOR OF M_(2)N IN A HIGH-NITROGEN AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL DURING ISOTHERMAL AGING

The precipitation behavior of M2N and the microstructural evolution in a Cr-Mn austenitic stainless steel with a high nitrogen content of 0.43mass% during isothermal aging has been investigated using optical microscopy （ OM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The aging treatments have led to the decomposition of nitrogen supersaturated austenitic matrix through discontinuous cellular precipitation. The precipitated cells comprise alternate lamellae of M2N precipitate and austenitic matrix. This kind of precipitate morphology is similar to that of pearlite. However, owing to the non-eutectoidic mechanism of the reaction, the growth characteristic of the cellular precipitates is different from that of pearlite in Fe-C binary alloys. M2N precipitate in the cell possesses a hexagonal crystal structure with the parameters a = 0.4752nm and c = 0.4429nm, and the orientation relationship between the M2V precipitates and austenite determined from the SADP is [01^-10]M2N//[101]γ, [2^-1^-10]M2N//[010]γ.

Effects of cold rolling deformation on microstructure,hardness,and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Effects of cold rolling deformation on the microstructure, hardness, and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel （HNASS） are investigated. Microstructure characterization shows that 70% cold rolling deformation results in significant refinement of the microstructure of this steel, with its average twin thickness reducing from 6.4 μm to 14 nm. Nanoindentation tests at different strain rates demonstrate that the hardness of the steel with nano-scale twins （nt-HNASS） is about 2 times as high as that of steel with micro-scale twins （mt-HNASS）. The hardness of nt-HNASS exhibits a pronounced strain rate dependence with a strain rate sensitivity （m value） of 0.0319, which is far higher than that of mt-HNASS （m = 0.0029）. nt-HNASS shows more significant load plateaus and a higher creep rate than mt-HNASS. Analysis reveals that higher hardness and larger m value of nt-HNASS arise from stronger strain hardening role, which is caused by the higher storage rate of dislocations and the interactions between dislocations and high density twins. The more significant load plateaus and higher creep rates of nt-HNASS are due to the rapid relaxation of the dislocation structures generated during loading.

Precipitates in an isothermally aged Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.04C-0.48N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Vertical section of Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.04C-N system phase diagram varying with nitrogen content at 1×105 Pa was calculated using Thermo-Calc software and thermodynamic database.The morphology and crystallography information of precipitates in Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.04C-0.48N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel during isothermal aging at 800 ℃ after austenization was investigated using optical microscopy(OM),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) with energy distribution spectrum(EDS).The experimental results show that three precipitates,(Cr,Fe,Mn)2(N,C),(Cr,Fe,Mn)23(C,N)6 and σ phase exist in this steel,which is consistent with the thermodynamic calculation,indicating that thermodynamic calculation can provide instructions for alloy composition design,heat treatment and prediction of precipitation sequence in Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.04C-N system.

Preparation of high nitrogen and nickel-free austenitic stainless steel by powder injection molding

High nitrogen and nickel-free austenitic stainless steel has received much recognition worldwide because it can solve the problem of ＂nickel-allergy＂ and has outstanding mechanical and physical properties. In this article, 0Cr17Mn11Mo3N was prepared by powder injection molding （PIM） technique accompanied with solid-nitriding. The results show that the critical solid loading can achieve up to 64vol% by use of gas-atomized powders with the average size of 17.4 μm. The optimized sintefing conditions are determined to be 1300℃,2 h in flowing nitrogen atmosphere, at which the relative density reaches to 99% and the N content is as high as 0.78wt%. After solution annealing at 1150℃for 90 rain and water quench, the 0.2% yield strength, ultimate tensile strength （UTS）, elongation, reduction in area, and hardness can reach as high as 580 MPa, 885 MPa, 26.0%, 29.1%, and Hv 222, respectively.

Aging precipitation and recrystallization in high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

The interaction between precipitation and recrystallization in cold deformed Fe-18Cr-12Mn-0.48N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel was investigated by means of hardness test, optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the recrystallization of the steel begins at about 750℃ . When aging at 750℃ , the precipitation occurs prior to recrystallization. Large numbers of the second phases nucleate in dislocation, grain boundary and subgrain boundary. Precipitation of the second-phase particles hinders the formation of recrystallization nucleus.

Influence of chemical composition and cold deformation on aging precipitation behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels

The influence of chemical composition and cold deformation on aging precipitation behavior of 18Cr-16Mn-2Mo-1.1N(HNS-A), 18Cr-16Mn-1.3N(HNS-B), 18Cr-18Mn-2Mo-0.96N(HNS-C) and 18Cr-18Mn-2Mo-0.77N(HNS-D) high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels was investigated. The results show that the "nose" temperatures and incubation periods of the initial time temperature precipitation(TTP) curves of aged HNSs are found to be 850℃,60s; 850℃, 45s; 850℃, 60 s and 900℃,90s, respectively. Based on the analysis of SAD patterns, the coarse cellular Cr2N precipitate which presents a lamellar structure has a hexagonal structure of a=0.478 nm and c=0.444 nm. The χ phase corresponding to a composition of Fe36Cr12Mo10, is determined to be a body-centered cubic structure of a=0.892 nm. The precipitating sensitivity presents no more difference with the nitrogen content increasing from 0.77% to 0.96%, but exhibits so obviously that the cellular precipitates nearly overspread the whole field. The addition of Mo element can restrain the TTP curves moving left and down, which means decreasing the sensitivity of aging precipitation. With increasing the cold deformation, the sensitivity of precipitation increases obviously.

Strain rate and cold rolling dependence of tensile strength and ductility in high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel

The tensile strength and ductility of a high nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel with solution and cold rolling treatment were investigated by performing tensile tests at different strain rates and at room temperature. The tensile tests demonstrated that this steel exhibits a significant strain rate and cold rolling dependence of the tensile strength and ductility.With the increase of the strain rate from 10^-4s^-1to 1 s^-1, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increase and the uniform elongation and total elongation decrease. The analysis of the double logarithmic stress–strain curves showed that this steel exhibits a two-stage strain hardening behavior, which can be well examined and analyzed by using the Ludwigson equation. The strain hardening exponents at low and high strain regions（n2and n1） and the transition strain（εL） decrease with increasing strain rate and the increase of cold rolling RA. Based on the analysis results of the stress–strain curves, the transmission electron microscopy characterization of the microstructure and the scanning electron microscopy observation of the deformation surfaces, the significant strain rate and cold rolling dependence of the strength and ductility of this steel were discussed and connected with the variation in the work hardening and dislocation activity with strain rate and cold rolling.

On the Plasma (ion) Carburized Layer of High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

The manganese concentration of austenitic stainless steel decreases from the inner layer towards the surface of the plasma (ion) carburized layer due to the evaporation of manganese from the specimen surface. The carbon concentration in the carburized layer is influenced by alloyed elements such as Cr, Ni, Si, and Mo, as well as Nitrogen. This study examined the effects of nitrogen on the properties of the carburized layer of high nitrogen stainless steel. Plasma (ion) carburizing was carried out for 14.4 ks at 1303 K in an atmosphere of CH4+H2 gas mixtures under a pressure of 350 Pa. The plasma carburized layer of the high nitrogen stainless steel was thinner than that of an austentric stainless steel containing no nitrogen. This suggested that the nitrogen raised the activity of carbon in the plasma carburized layer, GDOES measurement indicated that the nitrogen level in the layer did not vary after plasma (ion) carburizing.

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution of Cold-deformed High-nitrogen Nickel-free Austenitic Stainless Steel during Annealing

The mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of cold-deformed CrMnN austenitic stainless steel annealed in a temperature ranging from 50 ℃ to 650 ℃ for 90 min and at 550 ℃ for different time were investigated by tensile test, micro hardness test, and Transmission Electron Microscope （TEM）. The steel was strengthened when it got annealed at temperatures ranging from 100 ℃ to 550 ℃, while it was softened when it got annealed at temperatures ranging from 550 ℃ to 650 ℃. Annealing temperature had stronger effect on mechanical properties than annealing time. TEM observations showed that nano-sized precipitates formed when the steel was annealed at 150 ℃ for 90 min, but the size and density of precipitates had no noticeable change with annealing temperature and time. Recrystallization occurred when the steel was annealed at temperatures above 550 ℃ for 90 min, and its scale increased with annealing temperature. Nano-sized annealing twins were observed. The mechanisms that controlled the mechanical behaviors of the steel were discussed.

Welding of nickel free high nitrogen stainless steel: Microstructure and mechanical properties

High nitrogen stainless steel(HNS) is a nickel free austenitic stainless steel that is used as a structural component in defence applications for manufacturing battle tanks as a replacement of the existing armour grade steel owing to its low cost, excellent mechanical properties and better corrosion resistance.Conventional fusion welding causes problems like nitrogen desorption, solidification cracking in weld zone, liquation cracking in heat affected zone, nitrogen induced porosity and poor mechanical properties.The above problems can be overcome by proper selection and procedure of joining process. In the present work, an attempt has been made to correlate the microstructural changes with mechanical properties of fusion and solid state welds of high nitrogen steel. Shielded metal arc welding(SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding(GTAW), electron beam welding(EBW) and friction stir welding(FSW) processes were used in the present work. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction were used to characterize microstructural changes. Hardness, tensile and bend tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of welds. The results of the present investigation established that fully austenitic dendritic structure was found in welds of SMAW. Reverted austenite pools in the martensite matrix in weld zone and unmixed zones near the fusion boundary were observed in GTA welds. Discontinuous ferrite network in austenite matrix was observed in electron beam welds.Fine recrystallized austenite grain structure was observed in the nugget zone of friction stir welds.Improved mechanical properties are obtained in friction stir welds when compared to fusion welds. This is attributed to the refined microstructure consisting of equiaxed and homogenous austenite grains.

Effect of the cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high nitrogen stainless steel weld metals

The microstructure and mechanical properties of high nitrogen steel(HNS) weld metals prepared under air-and water-cooling conditions are investigated, and the effect of the cooling rate on these properties is discussed. The results indicate that an increase in the cooling rate could significantly increase the nitrogen content in HNS weld metals, especially for weld metals with a nitrogen content of 0.85%.Moreover, increasing the cooling rate could result in an increase in the tensile strength of HNS weld metals, which is found to be strongly dependent on the nitrogen content of the HNS sample. For high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel welding wire with lower nitrogen content, increasing the cooling rate could significantly improve its tensile strength, but a higher cooling rate has no influence on weld metals with nitrogen content less than 0.58%. The tensile strength of the joint reached 850 MPa.

Effects of pre-precipitation of Cr_2N on microstructures and properties of high nitrogen stainless steel

Aging precipitation and solid solution heat treatment were carried out on three steels which have chromium content of 18%,manganese content of 12%,15%,18%,and nitrogen content of 0.43%,0.53%,0.67%,respectively,The mechanisms of precipitation and solid solution of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel were studied using the scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,electron probe micro analysis and mechanical testing.The results show that,Cr2N is the primary precipitate in the tested stainless steels instead of Cr23C6.Cr2N nucleates at austenitic grain boundaries and grows towards inner grains with a lamellar morphology.By means of pre-precipitation of Cr2N at 800 °C,the microstructure of the steels at solid solution state can be refined,thus improving the strength and plasticity.After the proposed treatment,the tensile strength,the proof strength and the elongation of the tested steel reach 881 MPa,542 MPa and 54%,respectively.

Gas metal arc welding of high nitrogen stainless steel with AreN_(2)-O_(2)ternary shielding gas

High nitrogen stainless steel with nitrogen content of 0.75%was welded by gas metal arc welding with Ar-N_(2)-O_(2)ternary shielding gas.The effect of the ternary shielding gas on the retention and improvement of nitrogen content in the weld was identified.Surfacing test was conducted first to compare the ability of O_(2)and CO_(2)in prompting nitrogen dissolution.The nitrogen content of the surfacing metal with O_(2)is slightly higher than CO_(2).And then AreN_(2)-O_(2)shielding gas was applied to weld high nitrogen stainless steel.After using N_(2)-containing shielding gas,the nitrogen content of the weld was improved by 0.1 wt%.As N_(2)continued to increase,the increment of nitrogen content was not obvious,but the ferrite decreased from the top to the bottom.When the proportion of N_(2)reached 20%,a full austenitic weld was obtained and the tensile strength was improved by 8.7%.Combined with the results of surfacing test and welding test,it is concluded that the main effect of N_(2)is to inhibit the escape of nitrogen and suppress the nitrogen diffusion from bottom to the top in the molten pool.

Microstructure and pitting corrosion of shielded metal arc welded high nitrogen stainless steel

The present work is aimed at studying the microstructure and pitting corrosion behaviour of shielded metal arc welded high nitrogen steel made of Cromang-N electrode. Basis for selecting this electrode is to increase the solubility of nitrogen in weld metal due to high chromium and manganese content. Microscopic studies were carried out using optical microscopy(OM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM). Energy back scattered diffraction(EBSD) method was used to determine the phase analysis, grain size and orientation image mapping. Potentio-dynamic polarization testing was carried out to study the pitting corrosion resistance in aerated 3.5% NaCl environment using a GillAC electrochemical system. The investigation results showed that the selected Cr-Mn-N type electrode resulted in a maximum reduction in delta-ferrite and improvement in pitting corrosion resistance of the weld zone was attributed to the coarse austenite grains owing to the reduction in active sites of the austenite/delta ferrite interface and the decrease in galvanic interaction between austenite and delta-ferrite.

The Phenomenon of High Hardness Values on the S-Phase Layer of Austenitic Stainless Steel via Screen Plasma Nitriding Process

The purpose of this study is to improve the surface properties of austenitic stainless steel using the double-folded electrode screen plasma nitriding (SPN) process. In general, the S-phase is well-known for its excellent properties such as improved hardness and wear resistance along with sustained corrosion resistance. The concentrated nitrogen via SPN process was injected to form S-phase with time at 713 K. This study was carried out under the conditions of 44 at% of nitrogen injection, which was higher than 25 at% known as the condition of no precipitation of S-phase formed by the SPN process, and 20 K higher than the maximum temperature without precipitation phase. The hardness analysis of stainless steel sample treated by the SPN process at 713 K showed a much higher value than the typical nitriding hardness at a depth of lower nitrogen than the maximum nitrogen concentration. The SPN 20 hr treated specimen showed the average value of 2339 HV while 40 hr showed the average value of 2215 HV. The result is attributed to the concentrated nitrogen formed in the SPN process reacting with the alloying elements contained in the base material to form fine precipitates, thus producing a synergy effect of the extreme hardening effect;that is, the movement of precipitates and dislocations due to the GP-zone (Guinier-Preston zone).

Development and application of nitrogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steels in Baosteel

In recent years,nitrogen-alloyed stainless steels have been a research hotspot in the field of stainless steel product and technology. Nitrogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steels developed by Baosteel and their applications are introduced. These steels are nitrogen-controlled products 304 N and 316 LN,nitrogen containing economical products BN series and high-nitrogen stainless steel（ HNS） series. The results show that the presence of nitrogen can significantly improve the strength and corrosion resistance of steel produced. By nitrogen alloying,economical austenitic stainless steels w ith considerably less nickel than 304 can be obtained; the corrosion resistances of these steels are almost the same as 304. Furthermore,by a scientific approach of nitrogen alloying,high-nitrogen steel of0. 8% nitrogen content is fabricated under the non-pressurized conditions,and the pitting potential of this steel is ＆gt;1. 0 V. At present,nitrogen-alloyed steels developed by Baosteel are w idely utilized in the manufacture of cryogenic storage containers,transportation containers,and many household w ares.