Electrochemical characterization of 13Cr low-carbon martensitic stainless steel - Corrosion study with a mini-cell setup

13Cr low-carbon martensitic stainless steels also known as supermartensitic stainless steels (SMSS) have superior properties than conventional martensitic stainless steels. The SMSS have better weldability and corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, corrosion resistance depends on phases transformations which are induced generally by heat treatments. In this work, the electrochemical properties of a SMSS were evaluated as a function of the tempering temperature (400 °C-700 °C). The susceptibility to intergranular corrosion was determined throught the degree of sensitization (DOS) using the Double Loop - Electrochemical Potentiokinetic Reactivation technique (DL-EPR) in a conventional three electrodes corrosion cell. On the other hand, the pitting susceptibility was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization using a homemade corrosion mini-cell (based on a sessile electrolyte droplet), thus avoiding crevice problems typically seen with conventional arrangements. Imaging the microstructure with SEM, XRD analysis and thermodynamic and kinetic simulations were performed to understand the microstructural transformations and their relationship with corrosion resistance. The most severe sensitization occurs at the temperature where reversed austenite transformation is highest.