Influence of Sigma Phase Precipitation on Pitting Corrosion of 2507 Super-Duplex Stainless Steel

Specimens of 2507 super-duplex stainless steel aging at 850°C for 5 min, 15 min and 60 min were investigated to evaluate the pitting corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution at 30°C and 50°C. The results are correlated with the microstructures obtained with different aging time. The precipitation of σ phase remarkably decreases the pitting corrosion resistance of the steel and the specimen aged for 60 min presents the lowest pitting potential at both 30°C and 50°C. With increasing the ambient temperature from 30°C to 50°C, the pitting potential exhibits a reduction tendency, while this tendency is less obviously in enhancing the ambient temperature than in extending the isothermal aging duration from 5 to 60 min. SEM analysis shows that the surrounding regions of σ phase are the preferable sites for the formation of corrosion pits which grew up subsequently. This may be attributed to the lower content of corrosion resistance elements in these regions formatted with σ phase precipitation.