Intergranular corrosion

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Wet corrosion Intergranular corrosion

TESTING FOR RESISTANCE TO INTERGRANULAR CORROSION

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Several methods exist for the testing of intergranular corrosion. Generally an oxidising, acidic solution is used, but pH, potential and temperature depend on the method employed. Because of their differences one must choose a method which is suitable for the steel grade and grain boundary composition to be tested. The applicability for some ASTM tests to austenitic stainless steels are summarised in table 2. Intergranular corrosion in stainless steels may result from precipitation of carbides, nitrides or intermetallic phases. Only in the most highly oxidizing solutions can intergranular attack be caused by intermetallic phases. When a test is to be restricted to carbides, in a material containing nitrides or intermetallic phases, a less oxidizing solution should therefore be chosen. Corrosion potentials of wrought stainless steel in different test solutions and the detectable phases are summarised in table 3. Table 2. Applicability of som ASTM standard practices in A 262 for testing of intergranular corrosion in austentic stainless steels PRACTICE TEST TEMPERATURE TIME APPLICABILITY EVALUATION A Oxalic Acid Etch ambient 1.5 min Chronium carbide sensitization only Microscopic: classification of etch Screening Test structure B Ferric Sulphate boiling 120 h Chronium carbide Weight loss/corrosion rate 50% Sulphuric Acid C 65% Nitric Acid boiling 240 h Chronium carbide and sigma phase Weight loss/corrosion rate D 10% Nitric Acid 70C 4h Chronium carbide in 316, 316 L, 317 Corrosion ratio compared to solution 3% Hydrofluoric and 317 L annealed specimen Acid E 6% Copper boiling 24 h Chronium carbide Examination for fissures after bending Sulphate 16% Sulphuric Acid Metallic Copper F Copper Sulphate boiling 120 h Chronium carbide in cast 316 and 316 Weight loss/corrosion rate 50% Sulphuric Acid L Metallic Copper Table 3. Corrosion potentials and detectable phases for wrought stainless steels in som acid solutions AUSTENITIC STEELS FERRITIC STEELS SOLUTION CORROSION POTENTIAL Cr-carbide Sigma Carbides and Nitrides (V 65% HNO

Intermetallics

SCE

)
yes yes

Fe-Cr 316, 316L, yes 317, 317L, 321 no (321 possible exception) yes

Fe-Cr-Mo yes yes yes yes or in unstabilised (not Fe-Cr-Mo alloys)

3 Fe2(SO4) 3 H2SO4 CuSO4 + H2SO4

As above but with metallic Cu 10% HNO 3% HF

0.75-1.0 0.6 +

0.35

yes

no

yes

yes

no

0.1

yes

no no

yes yes

yes yes

no no

-0.1 -0.3

yes

5% H

2SO4

-0.6

yes

no

no

yes (not or in unstabilised grades)

no

Intergranular corrosion testing IGC testing is the only corrosion test performed as a standardised pre-delivery test. Strauss and Huey are the two most common test methods. They are carried out as a rule on samples from finished tubes in the as-delivered condition, or on material that has been sensitised, i.e. heated in the critical temperature range (in a furnace or by welding). The test result is sometimes presented in the form of a TTC diagram (Time-Temperature-Corrosion). Please refer to the diagram in the data sheet for Sanicro 28.

HUEY TEST
The Huey test (ASTM A262, practice C) means that the samples are boiled for 5 periods of 48 hours each in 65% nitric acid. The corrosion rate is calculated for each period from weight losses. For further information the maximum depth of attack may be measured, but this is not included in the standard evaluation. The environment is strongly oxidising and should only be used as a check on whether the material has been correctly heat treated. The Huey test can therefore not be used

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Intergranular corrosion

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to compare the corrosion resistance of different steels to other, less oxidising, environments. This test is suitable for the detection of chromium depleted regions as well as intermetallic precipitations, like sigma phase, in the material. The Huey test is also used for materials that come into contact with strongly oxidising agents, e.g. nitric acid.

STRAUSS TEST

A common way of investigating the resistance to intergranular corrosion is to heat treat the sample in the sensitising temperature range and carry out a Strauss test (SIS 117105, DIN 50914, ASTM A262 practice E etc.). The samples are boiled in a solution of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid with copper turnings. The test time (15, 20 or 24 hours) depends on the standard used and the evaluation consists of a visual examination for cracks originating from intergranular corrosion attacks. The samples are usually bent before examination. If cracks are suspected to arise from poor ductility even in un-sensitised samples a similar but unexposed sample should be used for reference. Whenever the origin of cracks is questionable a detailed metallographic examination should be performed to determine the absence or presence of intergranular attack. This test method can detect chromium depleted regions in the material but cannot detect other possibly detrimental inhomogeneities, like precipitations of sigma phase. Figure 5 shows a so called time-temperature-sensitisation curve, where the minimum time for heat treatment before intergranular attacks appear is shown as a function of temperature.

STREICHER TEST
The Streicher test (ASTM A262 practice B, ASTM G28) requires the samples to be immersed in a boiling solution of ferric sulphate and sulphuric acid for a period of up to five days. The test can detect chromium depleted regions in stainless steels but cannot be used to detect susceptibility to intergranular attacks associated with sigma phase in wrought stainless steels. The evalution of samples is done by calculating the corrosion rates and may also be completed with the measured depths of attack. Other tests There are also other methods for determination of the resistance to IGC, e.g. in ASTM A 262. High-alloyed materials are sometimes tested according to ASTM G 28 120 hours in a boiling mixture of iron(III)sulphate and sulphuric acid. Facts Sensitisation occurs in the range 550 850C, e.g. during heat treatment or welding (HAZ). Cr-carbide formation (or other types of precipitates) can lead to Cr depletion and selective attack of a zone next to the grain boundaries or in the weld fusion line. Materials with good IGC resistance: ELC steels and Ti/Nb-stabilised steels. Intergranular-corrosion testing mainly according to Strauss or Huey. A document from the Sandvik Materials Technology web-site.

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