Influence of Sinter-Cooling Rate on the Corrosion Behavior of High-Nitrogen, Low-Nickel Powder Metallurgy Austenitic Stainless Steel

Abstract

A high-nitrogen, low-nickel powder metallurgy austenitic stainless steel was studied and compared with a conventional powder metallurgy austenitic stainless steel. Three different sintering processes were applied by controlling the sinter-cooling rate (furnace, gas, and water). Nitrogen was chosen as the sintering atmosphere. A microstructural study was performed and the corrosion behavior was evaluated in terms of anodic polarization measurements and an electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test. It was found that the water-cooling process is advisable for good corrosion behavior. The results were correlated with the microstructural features.