EFFECT OF POST WELD STRESS RELIEVING ON INTERGRANULAR CORROSION RESISTANCE OF AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS

摘要

Since intergranular attack (IGA) occurs mainly to the sensitized austenitic stainless steels, the most obvious way to avoid IGA would be not to permit any sheet metal post weld stress relieving operations to the temperature range of from 500°C to 800°C. When stability is required, stress relieving heat treatments of sheet metal stainless steel components are generally carried out in this temperature range. Consequently, total elimination of sensitized microstructure would be impossible without decreasing aging time and or increasing cooling time.