Effect of prior cold work on the degree of sensitisation of welded joints of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel studied by using an electrochemical minicell

This work aims to assess the effect of prior cold work on the degree of sensitisation of each of the four welding zones of welded joints of AISI 316L subjected to post-welding sensitisation. Electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation and double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation tests are performed on each of the four zones by using a small-scale electrochemical cell (minicell). The results show that the degree of sensitisation of heat affected zone, which achieves its maximum at a prior cold work level of 10%, is significantly lower than that of base material for a prior cold work of 20%.

► Double loop shows greater sensitivity to interdendritic corrosion than single loop.
► Fusion line sensitisation is lower than that of weld metal for all prior cold works.
► Heat affected zone sensitisation is maximum at a prior cold work of 10%.
► Heat affected zone sensitisation ≪ base material sensitisation for a prior cold work of 20%.