Technique for Detecting Sensitization in Austenitic Stainless Steel

A potentiostatic pulse technique has been proposed for detecting sensitization of austenitic stainless steel. Compared with conventional electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) test, this technique has some advantages: The detection of sensitization of stainless steel with this technique can be conducted at greater speed and with smaller destruction. A potentiostatic pulse test is generally completed within five minutes. It is almost nondestructive. The experimental results indicate that the sensitization of auste-nitic stainless steel can be detected with this technique.