| Abstract: | Influence of austenite stability of 18-8 Cr-Ni-steels on the cold working and corrosion properties of these steels The martensite formed during cold working has a negative effect on uniform corrosion only when the specimen is active in the particular medium; if so, corrosion current density increases with the degree of cold working. The martensite generated by cold working reduces on the other hand the susceptibility to intercrystalline corrosion and – in amounts up tn 2% – increases the time to failure in stress corrosion cracking (15 and 45 kp/mm2). The pitting potential is not shifted by the martensite, but pit density increases with the martensite content. In the Kesternich test no negative effect of the martensite is found. It is therefore concluded that reducing the Ni content in 18-8 steels improves workability without having a pronounced deleterions bearing on corrosion behaviour. |
