Effect of Short-Time Aging on the Sensitization Characteristics of 310S Stainless Steel

The sensitization characteristics of 310S stainless steel that was aged at 500 to 900 °C for less than 60 min were investigated by using a double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test (DL-EPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis (EDS). The 310S stainless steel was almost unsensitized after the aging treatments at 600 and 900 °C and was seriously sensitized at 700 and 750 °C. With the increase in aging time from 10 to 60 min, the degree of sensitization changed very slightly after aging at 600 and 900 °C and noticeably enlarged after aging at 700 and 800 °C. The precipitation of carbides during the short-term aging process led to Cr depletion at the grain boundary and then sensitized the 310S specimens.