Constant strain rate tests were conducted on welded austenitic AISI 304 (UNS 30400) in boiling MgCl2 solutions at concentrations stainless steel of 32% and 37% weight respectively. Potentiodynamic anodic polarization tests were carried out on unstressed welded coupons. Open circuit potential measurements on stressed specimens showed that weldments exhibited free corrosion behavior in the active-passive region. Residual ferrite phase in weldments was detected using experimental and analytical methods. The presence of residual delta ferrite in weldments is hypothesized to have been responsible for the formation of microgalvanic cells that lead to the selective dissolution of the ferrite phase in favor of the austenitic matrix. This situation provided suitable nucleation sites for cracking, and its simultaneous occurrence promoted crack propagation. Optical and electron microscopy investigations support this hypothesis and show that weldment interdendritic spaces suffered selective dissolution and that crack propagation followed a preferential path along delta ferrite rich interdendritic arms. It was also revealed by the optical and electron microscopy investigations that crack growth took place by the union of longitudinally aligned interdendritic arms. The results are in agreement with the Parkins model of crack nucleation by simultaneous action of passive film formation, film rupture.
Keywords : Austenitic Stainless Steel, Weldment, Anodic Polarization, Open Circuit Potential, Residual delta-ferrite, Austenitic Matrix, Interdendritic Spaces, Microgalvanic Cells, Selective Dissolution, Crack Nucleation, Crack Propagation, Preferential Path, Simultaneous Film Formation and Rupture