Evaluation of sensitization in stainless steel AISI 304

Austenitic stainless steel, when heat-treated at 550-850 degreesC, became susceptible to intergranular corrosion in acids. This phenomenon, know as sensitization, it is result from the precipitation of chrome carbides in the grain boundary, making these areas less resistant to corrosion. Two different electrochemical reactivation tests are compared with a destructive test and related to the classification of its respective microstructures. It was established a quantitative methodology to evaluate the degree of sensitization in AISI 304 and also to compare the correspondence of the results with the data of the automatic and portable EPR device for non-destructive field measurement of the degree of sensitization. The used electrochemical techniques were the EPR (Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation) or single loop test and the PRP (Pasivation Reactivation Potentiokinetic) or double loop test. The destructive test used was boiling, 120 h ferric sulfate-50 % sulfuric acid, according to the standard practices ASTM A-262 practices B. The classifications of etch structures were according to the standard practices ASTM A-262 practices B.