Effects of rare earth metals on microstructure, mechanical properties, and pitting corrosion of 27% Cr hyper duplex stainless steel

Abstract

Abstract This research focuses on the addition of low-cost rare earth metals (REMs) to improve the comprehensive properties of hyper duplex stainless steels (DSSs). The effects of REM on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and pitting corrosion of hyper DSSs were analyzed by optical/scanning electron microscope metallographic examination, X-ray diffraction analysis, tensile test, impact test, and potentiodynamic polarization test. With the addition of REM, micro/nanoscale REM inclusions were formed, and the microstructure of the alloy was refined. With the increasing content of REM, the average diameter and area of inclusions in the alloy decreased at first and then increased. While the mechanical properties showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. An appropriate amount of stable REM inclusions could reduce the susceptibility of pitting corrosion and improve the pitting corrosion resistance of the alloy. The hyper DSSs with REM content in the range of 0.018–0.031 wt% have excellent mechanical properties and pitting resistance.