Mechanical and Electrochemical Characterization of Supersolidus Sintered Austenitic Stainless Steel (316 L)

The present study compares the mechanical properties and electrochemical behaviour of austenitic (AISI 316 L) stainless steel compacted at different pressures (200, 400 and 600 MPa), which are conventionally sintered at supersolidus temperature of 1,400°C. As expected, increase in compaction pressure (from 200 MPa) to 600 MPa has shown decreased shrinkage (from 7.3% to 4.2% radial and 5.5% to 3.4% axial, respectively) and increased densification (up to ~92%). Their electrochemical behaviour was investigated in 0.1 N H 2 SO 4 solution by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The mechanical properties (such as yield-, tensile- and transverse rupture strength) and electrochemical behaviour with pressure have been correlated with densification response and microstructure (pore type, volume and morphology). Highest densification (~92% theoretical) achieved at 600 MPa (compaction pressure) and 1,400°C (sintering temperature) resulted in excellent combination of tensile strength and ductility (456 ± 40 MPa and 25 ± 1.1% respectively), while showing lowest corrosion rate (0.1 mmpy or 4.7 mpy) due to the presence of isolated porosity in the sintered samples.