Nitrogen effect on precipitation and sensitization in cold-worked Type 316L(N) stainless steels

By Oh, Yong Jun & Hong, Jun Hwa
Published in Journal of Nuclear Materials NULL 2000

Abstract

The precipitation behavior and sensitization resistance of Type 316L(N) stainless steels containing different concentrations of nitrogen have been investigated at the aging condition of 700°C for cold work (CW) levels ranging from 0% (as solution annealed) to 40% reduction in thickness. The precipitation of M23C6 carbide and intermetallic compounds (χ, Laves and σ phase) was accelerated by increasing the CW level. Nitrogen in the deformed alloys retarded the inter- and intra-granular precipitation of the carbides at low and high CW levels respectively, whereas it increased the relative amount of the χ phase. Quantitative assessment of the degree of sensitization (DOS) using the double loop-electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) tests indicated that CW levels up to 20% enhanced sensitization while 40% CW suppressed sensitization for all aging times. The increase in nitrogen content accelerated the sensitization at CW levels below 20%. This might be associated with the homogeneous distribution of dislocations and the lower tendency toward recrystallization exhibited in the alloys having higher nitrogen content.

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