Comparative study: sensitization development in hot-isostatic-pressed cast and wrought structures type 316L(N)-IG stainless steel under isothermal heat treatment

This work focuses on the relative sensitization resistance of type 316L(N)-IG stainless steel (SS). Cast and wrought structures SS after solid hot-isostatic pressing (solid-HIP) operation are investigated under isothermal heat treatment. Wrought SS/SS solid-HIP joint sensitization is taken also into consideration. These experiments employed the quantitative double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) and oxalic acid etch screening tests. A copper–copper sulfate-16% sulfuric acid test applied for strongly sensitized cast SS to reinforce the results were received by the methods mentioned above. Results from all employed methods correlate well. Sensitization was detected neither in cast nor in wrought SS in as-HIPed condition excluding wrought SS/SS solid-HIP joints. Significant difference between sensitization development rates was determined in cast and wrought SS structures when annealing at 675 °C for a duration up to 50 h.