Corrosion effects on mechanical properties of sintered stainless steels

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the effects of corrosion atmosphere on sintered stainless-steel specimens. In particular, it is intended to assess a relation existing between weight and corrosion resistance, density and corrosion resistance, tensile properties and corrosion resistance. Three groups of sintered stainless steels were studied. They differ, one from each other, for the laser power and for the speed scanning. For each group, nine specimens were made up. For all of them, measurements of both weight and density were carried out. One specimen of them was tested, as received, according to the tensile standard for metallic materials. Eight specimens for each class were placed in corrosive atmosphere in conducting the neutral salt spray (NSS) tests for assessment of the corrosion resistance of metallic materials. Four different periods of exposure were defined. At the end of each test period, two specimens were removed from the cabinet. Visual observations, measurements of mass loss, density variations and tensile tests was carried out on all the specimens referring to the specific exposure time, in order to evaluate and record all the changes referring to the specific conditions they were subjected to.