Intergranular corrosion resistance of stainless steel diffusion‐bonded joints with B‐containing amorphous insert metal

Abstract

Summary This paper describes an investigation of the intergranular corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel joints diffusion‐bonded with an amorphous insert metal containing 1.5 mass% boron, in order to clarify optimum bonding conditions for austenitic stainless steel pipes joined by a high‐speed diffusion bonding system. The sulphuric acid/copper sulphate test is conducted to evaluate the intergranular corrosion of bonded joints caused by a Cr depletion zone. Joints diffusion‐bonded with lower bonding pressure and shorter bonding time are more sensitive to intergranular corrosion. Under such bonding conditions, Cr boride and Cr carboboride precipitates causing selective corrosion are found in the bonding layer. Joints diffusion‐bonded under higher bonding pressure and with longer bonding time, however, show no intergranular corrosion and few precipitates in the bonding layer. With regard to the B‐containing amorphous insert metal used in the present investigation, the optimum bonding conditions...