Stainless Steel

Introduction
Excellent corrosion resistance Cr as main
alloying element
At least 12 % Cr forming surface oxide in the
surface of steel passive layer, protects the steel
Stainless steel if : 12>%Cr>30
Most common : 16>%Cr>22
Biocompability Iron +
< 10% Chromium > 10% Chromium
Passive Film
Rust

Carbon Stainless
Steel Steel
Introduction
Passive surface oxide layer and Cr

Effect of Cr on corrosion resistance

Corrosion Rate, mm/y

0.200
0.175
0.150
0.125
0.100
0.075
0.050
0.025

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
C h ro m iu m , W t. P ct.
Introduction
Passive surface oxide layer and Cr
Based on formation of Cr2O3
Similar to other fairly reactive metals: Ti, Al
Can put Fe into passive region on Eh/pH
and form protective Fe oxide surface layer:
anodic protection
Need oxidizing atmosphere to maintain the
protective layer
Reducing agents will destroy film and cause
corrosion same as C-steel
Alloying Elements
Alloying Elements
Fe Cr Phase Diagram
loop
phase: hard and
brittle
Fe-Cr-C Phase Diagram
A. 0.05 % C
B. 0.1 % C
C. 0.2 % C
D. 0.4 % C
Fe-Ni-Cr-C Phase Diagram

4 % Ni 8 % Ni
Classification
Ferritic stainless steel
Martensitic stainless steel
Austenitic stainless steel
Duplex stainless steel
Precipitation Hardened stainless steel
Super ferritic & super austenitic SS
Classification
Classification
Mechanical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Failure of SS
Pitting: pitting resistance index
Crevice corrosion
Intergranular corrosion weld decay
Stress corrosion cracking
Note:
SS not always better than C-steel as can get
selective attack/cracking,
Localized attack of passive layer can be
catastrophic.
Main culprit: Cl- so beware of proper grade
selection for coastal regions.
Failure of SS
Pitting
Passive layer is attacked locally Cl- ion and
others
Deep localized corrosion
Increased tendency:
Increasing Cl-
Increasing T
Decreasing pH (increasing acidity)
Decreased tendency:
Increasing % Cr
Increasing % Mo
Increasing % N
Failure of SS
Pitting
Failure of SS
Pitting
Failure of SS
Crevice corrosion

Similar to pitting: localized corrosion in

crevice
Likely occurs in:
Bolted connections
Under dirt, or scale
Failure of SS
Crevice corrosion
Failure of SS
Crevice corrosion
Failure of SS
Intergranular corrosion
Occurs when SS is held at
about 400-850 C region Cr
carbide precipitates occurs on
grain boundary, Cr23C6
Depletes adjacent area of Cr
rich Cr at GB and low Cr at
adjacent area of GB
If the SS is exposed to the
corrosive environment GB
is corroded
Failure of SS
Intergranular corrosion
Failure of SS
Intergranular corrosion
Failure of SS
Intergranular corrosion

Prevention
Increasing % Cr
Adding Ti, Nb, or Ta stronger carbide former
than C
Decreasing % C
Heat treat to 1050 C to redissolve carbides then
quench to avoid sensitized region
Fast rapid cooling after heat treatment
Failure of SS
Stress corrosion cracking
Ferritic SS
Fe Cr system, 12 30 % Cr
Structure mainly ferritic, BCC crystal
For applications which require corrosion resistance
and heat resistance
Similar corrosion resistance level as austenitic SS
with lower cost low Ni
Poor ductility improved with very low C and N
contents
Poor notch sensitivity BCC ductile to brittle
transition
Poor weldability
Lower susceptibility to SCC
Ferritic SS
Have a loop
Beyond 12 % Cr, ferrite at all
T
Brittle phase at high levels
of Cr
Commonly cannot
strengthened by the
martensitic transformation
Ferritic SS
Susceptible to embrittlement
475C embrittlement
Range 400-540 C
Precipitation of Cr rich phase on dislocation
-phase embrittlement
15-17 % Cr at range of 500-800 C for prolonged periods
High-temperature embrittlement
Heats high C and N alloy at about 950 C and cools to room T
Precipitation of Cr-rich carbides and nitrides
Can occur in almost all operations necessary for a structural
compponents
Ferritic SS
Microstructures

Group 1: 15-18% C
Primarily ferrite, fine carbide
precipitates at intergranular
or matrix
Group 2: 25-30% C
Primarily ferrite, coarser
carbide precipitates
Ferritic SS
Type & grades
Ferritic SS
Applications
Martensitic SS
Fe-Cr-C system, Ni may be added for 3 reasons;
Improve corrosion resistance as it permit a higher Cr content
Enhance toughness
Increase hardenability
12-17 % Cr, with sufficient C to produce martensitic
structure by quenching
Typical C contents: 0.15%
For higher hardness, 0.6-1.1 % C increase the content of
Cr to 16-18%
Adjust C and Cr levels, controlled alloying element
addition
to form loop austenization
C may depress Ms T retained austenite
Martensitic SS
Heat treatment :
Austenizing : 980 - 1090 C
Quenching: air cooling high hardenability due to Cr
Tempering : increase toughness & ductility
Advantage:
High hardness
Good cutting edge
Good wear resistance
Disadvantage:
Poorest corrosion resistance compare to other SS
Martensitic SS
Type & grades
Martensitic SS
Microstructures
Martensitic SS
Mechanical properties
Martensitic SS
Applications
Austenitic SS
Fe-Cr-Ni system
ternary
16-25 % Cr, 7-20 % Ni
High Cr levels (23-25 %
Cr) is used for elevated
temperature applications
Austenite at RT and at all
normal heat treatment
temperatures, FCC
Austenitic SS
Non magnetic, cannot be hardened by heat
treatment cold rolled to increase hardness
and strength
Better corrosion resistance than ferritic &
martensitic SS
Most widely used SS type 304
Heat treatment: annealing
Austenitic SS
Type and grade
Austenitic SS
Microstructures
Austenitic SS
Applications
Duplex SS
Cr: 18-30%, Ni: 3-9%
Intermediate between austenitic and ferritic
stainless steels ( + phase approx. 50-50)
Combine some characteristics of both
Better corrosion resistance than conventional
ferritic and better strength than austenitic
More SCC resistant than austenitic
More erosion resistant than austenitic
Toughness: ferritic<duplex<austenitic
Duplex SS
Corrosion resistance depend on : Cr, Mo, N
To lessen intergranular corrosion, most
Duplex SS have low carbon contents
(<0,03%)
Better pitting resistance than austenitic SS
Susceptible to chloride-induced SCC but
superior to austenitic SS
Higher amount of ferrite better SCC
resistance
Duplex SS
Chemical composition
Duplex SS
Chemical composition
Duplex SS
At 25%Cr alloy ideally
solidifies as phase,
cooling rate below
loop determines /
ratio
Commercial practice is
to water quench from
1050-1150oC to obtain
the 50-50 structure
Duplex SS
Duplex SS
Duplex SS
Microstructure

Duplex with Sigma

Clean Duplex
PH SS
Precipitation hardened SS
Structure:
Martensitic 17% Cr, 4%Ni
Semi-Austenitic 17% Cr, 7%Ni
Controlled transformation steels
Austenitic 17% Cr, 10%Ni
Other additions: Al, Nb, Cu and Mo (Ni3Al,
Ni3Mo, Nbx,Cy ppts nm in size)
Note: increasing Ni lowers Ms and Mf
PH SS
Ease of fabrication
High strength
Relatively good ductility
Excellent corrosion resistance
Strengthening methods
Precipitation hardening
PH SS
Martensitic PH SS
Example with 17-4 PH (17%Cr, 4%Ni)
Solution treat @ 1040oC, air cool to RT
Martensite forms above room temp.
Age at 480oC (~4hrs)
Martensite tempers (softens slightly)
Precipitates form, increase strength
Y.S. increases from 760 Mpa to 1240 Mpa
%elongation increases from 10-12%
Ductility and stress corrosion resistance increase with aging
Precipitate fine NbC
Golf club heads
Aging (strengthening); tempering (softening)
PH SS
Martensitic PH SS Chemical composition
PH SS
Martensitic PH SS Mechanical properties
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
17-7 PH (approx. same composition as 301 SS but
with 1-2% Al for PPT)
Duplex structure at RT (~10% + )
Softer than martensite YS~275 MPa
Can be formed to desired shape in this soft condition
High T conditioning 750oC and sub-zero
quench converts to martensite
Martensite then aged (450-510oC) to ppt Ni3Al
and Ni3Mo
YS increases from 275 MPa to 1275-1725 MPa (depends
on alloy and heat treatment)
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS

Martensite can be formed by:

A refrigerating cycle (sub-zero quench)
Cold deformation
A carbide ppt thermal cycle that raises the
transformation temperature above room
temperature causing the martensite to form on
cooling
A combination of these cycles
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
Ductilities 2-10% elongation
Conditioning treatment: 750oC for 2hrs
ppt. of intermetallic compounds (MS>RT)
Cool from conditioning (aging) T
martensite transformation (dispersed phase in
martensite matrix)
Sometimes may have to cool to 60oC to complete
(bcc martensite)
Final strength due to:
2nd phase dispersion
Fine grain, high dislocation density of (martensite)
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
Softer, more ductile than C-martensites
Fine grain size (plates)
high dislocation density but nearly no C in solid solution
(low o)
Softer martensite allows machining
Less distortion on transformation in BCC as opposed to
BCT
Aging produces a fine dispersion of 2nd phase intermetallic
particles
Final aged alloy has better toughness and low T properties
than the aged C-containing martensites because of lower C
content
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
PH SS
Semi austenitic PH SS
PH SS
Austenitic PH SS

Do not undergo martensite formation

Best ductility, lowest strength
More Ni: MS and MF below room T
Similar to 3xx stainless grade
Aging increases Y.S. to 690 MPa
Summary
Mechanical properties