Bulk and grain boundary diffusion of 59Fe, 51Cr, and 63Ni in austenitic stainless steel under influence of silicon content

AbstractThe effect of silicon content on bulk and intergranular diffusion in an austenitic stainless steel has been studied using the residual activity method. The highest intergranular diffusion rate and the lowest activation energy for the three elements forming the basic solid solution were obtained with 1 wt.-%Si. This behaviour is explained in terms of a modification of the interfacial energy induced by silicon segregation.