Corrosion behavior of microwave-sintered austenitic stainless steel composites

This study compares the electrochemical response of austenitic stainless steel (316L) and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)-reinforced 316L composites microwave-sintered in solid-state (1200 °C) and supersolidus (1400 °C) condition. Compared with conventional sintering (through radiative heating), microwave sintering results in better corrosion resistance. This has been correlated with higher densification and microstructural attributes in the latter. The 316L–5YAG composites consolidated in microwave furnace at 1400 °C yields the highest corrosion resistance.