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The copper alloyed stainless steel 1.4542 (X5CrNiCuNb16-4) is used in different areas due to its good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Strength and corrosion resistance can be adjusted by the heat treatment, which is of importance for the application of this alloy. The mechanical properties (strength and hardness) are attributed to the dispersive precipitation of the copper rich ε–Phase. The additional precipitation of chromium carbides can reduce the corrosion resistance. Different ageing states were produced to investigate the precipitation behaviour with various methods. Furthermore, the influence of cold-rolling on the precipitation behaviour was studied in comparison to a solution annealed state without deformation. The microstructure was studied by SEM and the variations of hardness and magnetic proportion were characterised. The electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR) was used to determine the corrosion resistance and detect chromium depletion in all heat-treated states. The results show that a work hardening accelerates the precipitation rate, while ageing at 600 °C reduces the corrosion resistance due to chromium depletion.
The double loop electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR) method is a standardised procedure for detecting and quantifying sensitisation on austenitic, ferritic and ferritic-austenitic stainless-steel grades. This sensitisation is caused by microstructural alternations, as the formation of chromium carbides, nitrides or sigma-phases, which generate local chromium depleted zones nearby. The latter strongly influence the corrosion resistance and the electrochemical response of a stainless steel during electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation, providing important information on the degree of chromium depletion. In case of martensitic stainless steels, which are used for cutlery and surgical instruments, the heat treatment has a strong impact on the microstructure, the material properties and especially on the corrosion resistance. To study this interaction, the EPR method was modified for the application on martensitic stainless steels with about 13 wt.-% chromium. Different H2SO4 concentrations and EPR-parameters were tested and compared on two standard martensitic stainless-steel grades (AISI 420 A / X20Cr13 and AISI 420 C / X46Cr13) to define applicable parameters. Afterwards, these parameters were used to study the effect of austenitisation time and cooling rate on the corrosion resistance of both martensitic stainless steels. The response of both alloys was different due to the different carbon levels, which will be explained by microstructural investigations in detail. All results allow postulating a process window, in which chromium depletion is suppressed and an optimised corrosion resistance is guaranteed. Based on this research, the modified EPR-test is now used to control the heat treatment and its impact on the corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless steels in the cutlery industry. The EPR-test is thus an interesting alternative for manufacturers, processors, users and researchers to the time-consuming exposition test normally used to characterise the corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless steels.
The novel heat treatment concept, “quenching and partitioning” (Q&P) has been devel-oped for high strength steels with enhanced formability. This heat treatment involves quenching of austenite to a temperature between martensite start and finish, to receive a several amount of retained austenite. During the subsequent annealing treatment, the so called partitioning, the retained austenite is stabilized due to carbon diffusion, which results in enhanced formability and strength regarding strain induced austenite to mar-tensite transformation. In this study a Q&P heat treatment was applied to a Fe-0.45C-0.65Mn-0.34Si-13.95Cr stainless martensite. Thereby the initial quench end temperature and the partitioning time were varied to characterize their influence on microstructural evolution. The microstructural changes were analysed by dilatometer measurements, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, including electron back-scatter diffrac-tion. Compression testing was made to examine the mechanical behaviour. It was found that an increasing partitioning time up to 30 min leads to an enhanced formability with-out loss in strength due to a higher amount of stabilized retained and reversed austenite as well as precipitation hardening.