Atomic force microscopy based approach to local impedance measurements of grain interiors and grain boundaries of sensitized AISI 304 stainless steel

The paper presents the results of the AFM based approach to local impedance spectroscopy (LIS) measurements performed within the region of austenite grain interiors and the austenite grain boundaries for both sensitized and non-sensitized AISI 304 stainless steel (SS). The local impedance investigations in the AFM contact mode were carried out after standard tests for susceptibility to intergranular corrosion (IGC). Local impedance spectra recorded in the AFM contact mode for both sensitized and non-sensitized AISI 304 stainless steel within the region of the austenite grain interiors and the austenite grain boundaries demonstrated different shapes and characters. Performed researches revealed significant differences in the charge transfer resistance values recorded for the austenite grain interiors and the grain boundaries depending on the sensitization state. Moreover, proposed AFM based approach allows identification of the IGC process even when a double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) method does not provide evidence of it.