Modified EPR-DL method for detection of the spinodal decomposition of 2205 duplex stainless steel

The presented work deals with the possibility of electrochemical detection of the spinodal decomposition of duplex stainless steel's ferritic phase using the modified electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation double loop (EPR‐DL) method. Specimens of FeCr23Ni6Mo3N (2205) steel exposed to the model low‐temperature annealing at 420 °C for up to 1000 h were used in the experiment. The specimens were evaluated using potentiodynamic curves measurements in chloride solutions and microhardness measurements. Despite hardening the ferritic phase for up to 1 h, a substantial drop of resistance to attack by chlorides was reported only after 1000 h of annealing. The modified EPR‐DL method in 2 M HCl + 0.1 M KSCN solution enables sensitive identification of the spinodal decomposition rate already from early stages.