Use of composition profiles near sigma phase for assessment of localized corrosion resistance in a duplex stainless steel

Abstract Pitting corrosion potential of a UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel (DSS) heat treated between 750 °C and 850 °C at different aging times was related to the extent of the Cr- and Mo-depleted areas at sigma-ferrite and sigma-austenite interfaces, estimated using DICTRA® simulations. It is possible to describe the sigma formation kinetics using a model that assumes a spherical region of austenite, with radius equivalent to the mean intercept of austenite islands, surrounded by ferrite. Composition profiles at sigma-ferrite and sigma-austenite interfaces were calculated, allowing the evaluation of the degree of depletion in Cr and Mo at sigma interfaces. There is a reduction of pitting potential with increase of the degree of depletion, characterized as the weighted sum of depleted areas in Cr and Mo composition profiles, making possible the assessment of the localized corrosion resistance of aged DSS through simulation of sigma phase formation.