Desensitization of austenitic and duplex stainless steels by laser surface melting

Sensitization is one of the corrosion mechanisms which cause widespread problems in stainless steels, particularly in welded assemblies and improperly heat-treated work pieces heated at 500 to 800°C. As the Cr-rich carbides and sigma phase form, they deplete their neighboring regions of Cr, thereby lowering the Cr contents of the surface oxides over these regions. Once the contents of Cr in the regions adjacent to the carbides drop below 12 wt%, the oxide layers lose their protectiveness. Then the stainless steels will suffer from intergranular corrosion attack. Laser surface melting (LSM) can be easily achieved by melting the surface with a laser beam followed by rapid solidification for homogenizing chemical compositions, desensitization of improperly heated surface (i.e. redisolving the chromium carbides) and even removing surface cracks. In the present study, LSM of austenitic stainless steels (AISI 304, 321 and 347) and duplex stainless steel (AISI 2205) was attempted for desensitization by a 2.5 kW Nd:YAG laser and the susceptibility of the sensitized stainless steels before and after LSM to intergranular corrosion was also evaluated. The degree of sensitisation (DOS) of the stainless steels was determined by the double loop electrochemical potentio-kinetic reactivation method in solution of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.01 M KSCN at 25 °C by a potentiostat. The corrosion morphology and surface hardness were also investigated as well. Desensitization of stainless steels was successfully achieved by LSM and their intergranular corrosion resistance was found to be significantly enhanced as reflected by the decrease in DOS due to the low chromium depletion or possible solute segregation at the boundaries.