Intergranular Corrosion Resistance Of Alloy Research Articles

Effect of Aging Treatment on Intergranular Corrosion Properties of Ultra-Low Iron 625 Alloy

The microstructures evolution of precipitations for an ultra-low iron Alloy 625 subjected to long term aging treatment at 750°C was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The intergranular corrosion behaviors of Alloy 625 were evaluated by using ASTM G28A. The result shows that the precipitated phase γ′′-Ni3Nb was mainly precipitated at the grain boundaries and twin boundaries. The number and volume fraction of γ′′ increased with the prolonging of aging time. The transformation of γ′′ to δ-Ni3Nb occurred after aging periods of 200 h. The corrosion resistance of Alloy 625 was significantly reduced during aging treatment. The decrease in intergranular corrosion resistance of Alloy 625 was attributed to the dissolution of precipitated phase and chromium depleted zone. The mass loss rate of Alloy 625 after aging treatment is related to the volume of precipitated phase and can be simulated by Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation.

Influence of shot peening and thermal ageing treatment on resistance to intergranular corrosion in shielded metal arc weld metal for type 600 nickel base alloy

Shielded metal arc weld metal for type 600 nickel base alloy (alloy 182) is used for weld components in nuclear power plants. To evaluate the intergranular corrosion resistance of alloy 182 after application of shot peening and subsequent thermal ageing treatment at 593–793 K, we conducted the corrosion test (immersed in boiled 16% sulphuric acid +5.7% copper sulphate aqueous solution at 57.6 ks) using specimens of alloy 182. The results show that the intergranular corrosion resistance of alloy 182 subjected to heat treatment at 893 K for 72 ks was improved by shot peening. Also, the intergranular corrosion resistance was not changed by thermal ageing treatment at 593–793 K subsequent to shot peening. Because remaining chromium depletion layers along grain boundaries were still observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) after shot peening, disappearance of chromium depletion layers cannot be a factor in the improvement of the intergranular corrosion resistance. The results of measurement of surface residual stress by the X-ray diffraction method show that the compressive residual stress introduced by shot peening still remained on the surface of the specimens. Based on these observations, we assumed that chromium depletion layers along grain boundaries near the surface were dissolved by the environment of the corrosion test, the dissolved regions were closed by the compressive residual stress on the surface, and then the remaining chromium depletion layers were protected from the corrosive environment. This assumption explains why the intergranular corrosion resistance was improved although chromium depletion layers remained.