Effect of Nitrogen Pressure During Heating and Ti Content on Corrosion Resistance and Electrical Conductivity of High Nitrogen Stainless Steels Prepared by the Solution Nitriding

This study focuses on the production of high-nitrogen stainless steel by solution nitriding as a low-cost and mass-production of bipolar plates for PEFCs. We investigate the effect of nitrogen pressure during heating on the corrosion resistance and contact resistance of high-nitrogen stainless steels. In the solution nitriding of 22Cr ferritic stainless steel, higher nitrogen pressure promoted austenitization of the matrix phase and improved corrosion resistance. However, much higher nitrogen pressure promoted the coarsening of nitrides on the surface and reduced corrosion resistance.