AN ELECTRON-PARAMAGNETIC-RES STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF PRIOR COLD WORK ON THE DEGREE OF SENSITIZATION OF AISI 304 STAINLESS-STEEL

The influence of prior cold work on the degree of sensitization of AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) has been studied for a wide range of cold work (up to 55%) by using a modified version of the conventional Strauss test as well as by using the more recently developed electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation technique (EPR). It has been found that with up to approximately 20% of prior cold work, the degree of sensitization (DOS) increases with increasing cold work. However, for prior deformation levels exceeding 35%, a reverse trend has been noticed. It has also been observed that, irrespective of the degree of cold working (0 to 55%), the electrochemical technique can yield a reliable estimation of the degree of sensitization only when the integrated charge (Q) values are considered.