The susceptibility to solidification cracking of unstabilized and stabilized ferritic stainless steels was investigated using self-restrained Houldcroft, Modified Varestraint-Transvarestraint (MVT), and hot tensile testing. Five experimental steel grades comprising an unstabilized, two mono stabilized (Ti or Nb), and two dual stabilized (Ti + Nb), and two commercial unstabilized and a dual stabilized (Ti + Nb), and another dual stabilized containing-Mo alloy (nine different alloys in total) were used in this study. Seven steel grades comprising an unstabilized, two mono stabilized (Ti and Nb) respectively, three dual stabilized (Ti + Nb) and a dual stabilized containing Mo were used for the self-restrained Houldcroft method. Autogenous gas tungsten arc welding at a speed of 6 mm/s, 3 mm/s, and 1 mm/s was done. The unstabilized ferritic stainless steel was resistant to solidification cracking. Ti addition to ferritic stainless steel resulted in a minor increase to susceptibility to solidification cracking. Nb in ferritic stainless steel increased solidification cracking. The addition of Ti and Nb resulted in a decreased susceptibility to solidification cracking compared to an alloy containing only Nb. The weld metal microstructures were a mixture of columnar and equiaxed grains. The interdendritic crack surfaces were enriched in Nb, Ti, Mn, Si, Al, Mn, and Mo. The MVT test was used for the test of an unstabilized, a Nb stabilized and two (Ti + Nb) dual stabilized ferritic stainless steels. Two different welding speeds of 6 mm/s and 3 mm/s using autogenous gas tungsten arc welding were employed. The high content (Ti + Nb) steel at a welding speed of 3 mm/s had the greatest sensitivity to solidification cracking. The Nb stabilized steel at both welding speeds (6 mm/s and 3 mm/s) and high content (Ti + Nb) steel at a welding speed of 6 mm/s showed intermediate sensitivity to solidification cracking. The unstabilized and low content (Ti + Nb) grades were the least sensitive to solidification cracking. The weld metal microstructures transverse to the welding direction revealed columnar grains in all the samples for both welding speeds. Three experimental Ti-, Nb-, and dual Ti + Nb stabilized ferritic stainless steels were used for hot tensile testing using a Gleeble-1500D thermo-mechanical machine at testing temperatures of 1200°C, 1250°C, and 1300°C. The dual stabilized ferritic stainless steel showed a high and fairly constant hot ductility with an increasing testing temperature. The Ti stabilized alloy revealed a slightly lower ductility compared to the dual stabilized steel but much higher ductility than the Nb stabilized ferritic stainless steel. The SEM images of the intergranular cracking showed interdendritic morphologies. EDX analysis showed the elements Al, Mn, Ti, Si, Ni, S, Nb, and Ni to be associated with the fractured surfaces. The hot tensile test results were inconclusive, due to the small number of samples and an acquisition frequency that was too low. The MVT test was better than the self-restrained Houldcroft, and the self-restrained Houldcroft was better than the hot tensile tests in quantifying the susceptibility of a specific ferritic stainless steel alloy to solidification cracking. The cracking response of Houldcroft seemed to be dominated by welding speed. Cracking response of MVT test seemed to be dominated by the Nb content. The effect of Nb and Ti on the susceptibility cracking could be explained in terms of the effect of these two alloying elements on the difference between the liquidus and the solidus. Nb was found to segregate strongly to the grain boundaries (low k value) which resulted in a significant increase in the difference between the liquidus and the solidus. This difference increased BTR which results in a high susceptibility to solidification cracking. Ti has a higher k value and segregates less than Nb during solidification. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / PhD / Unrestricted

Orientador: Vicente Afonso Ventrella / Resumo: Incluído na família dos Ferríticos, o aço Inox AISI 430 é um material importante sob os aspectos econômico e tecnológico, onde, atualmente passaram a ser utilizados cada vez mais nas indústrias de diversas áreas, como: automobilística, química e de aparelhos domésticos, perante a grande possibilidade de aplicação deste material. Em geral, esse material apresenta uma baixa sᴏldabilidade, particularmente se cᴏmparados cᴏm os austeniticos, pᴏis a sᴜa sᴏlda é caracterizada pᴏr dutilidade e tenacidade baixas além de sensibilidade à cᴏrrosão intergranᴜlar. A soldagem a laser desse material faz com que ocorra um crescimento do grão, tendo, entretanto, grãos colunares, com uma estrutura de granᴜlação grᴏsseira, apresentando uma rede martensita jᴜnto aᴏs contorno de grão, apresentando uma ZAT (zona afetada termicamente) perdendo sua resistência nas propriedades mecânicas. Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar as características do cordão de solda, realizando a análise da influência do processo de soldagem utilizando o laser pulsado Nd:YAG aplicado em soldas de chapas de aço inoxidável ferrítico AISI 430, com 1,0 mm de espessura, observando as características mecânicas e microestruturais da junta soldada. Por meio da variação da taxa de sobreposição do cordão de solda se fez uma soldagem em junta de topo, com seis condições de amostras, sendo estas de valor fixo de energia de soldagem em 10 Joules, com largura temporal em 5 ms, velocidade de soldagem em 1 mm/s, tendo alteração apenas ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Included in the Ferritic family, AISI 430 stainless steel is an important material in terms of economics and technology, where, today, they are increasingly used in industries such as: automobile, chemical and household appliances, possibility of applying this material. In general, such material has a low solvency, particularly if cured as austenitic, because the latter is characterized by low ductility and toughness in addition to sensitivity to intergranular corrosion. The laser welding of this material causes a growth of the grain to occur, however, having columnar grains with a gross granulation structure, presenting a martensite network along the grain boundary, presenting a ZAT (thermally affected zone), losing its resistance mechanical properties. This work aims to evaluate the characteristics of the weld bead, performing the analysis of the influence of the welding process using the pulsed Nd: YAG laser applied in welds of AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel sheets, 1.0 mm thick, observing the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the welded joint. By means of the variation of the overlapping rate of the weld bead was made a top joint welding with six sample conditions, these being of fixed value of welding energy in 10 Joules, with time width in 5 ms, welding speed in 1 mm / s, with only frequency changes ranging from 1.8 to 10 Hz, thus giving rise to different overlapping rates, in which argon gas protection was obtained, with a flow rate of 15 l / min. Th... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

AgÃncia Nacional do PetrÃleo / Os efeitos do envelhecimento a 400C e 475C na resistÃncia a corrosÃo, nas propriedades mecÃnica e magnÃtica do aÃo inoxidÃvel ferrÃtico AISI 444 foram investigados. O endurecimento causado pelo envelhecimento em ambas temperaturas foi medido, tendo sido observado que à mais intenso a 475ÂC. A susceptibilidade de corrosÃo localizada aumentou com o tempo de envelhecimento nas duas temperaturas, sendo tambÃm mais significativa a 475ÂC do que a 400ÂC. Com o tratamento de dissoluÃÃo a 570ÂC e 675ÂC ocorre a recuperaÃÃo dos valores de dureza e da resistÃncia à corrosÃo do aÃo. Diferente do aÃo inoxidÃvel duplex, o aÃo AISI 444 nÃo apresentou variaÃÃo na forÃa coercitiva e na temperatura de Curie com o aumento do tempo de envelhecimento. Os efeitos nos espectros de MÃssbauer tambÃm foram analisados. / The effects of aging at 400 C and 475   C in corrosion resistance, mechanical and magnetic properties of the ferritic stainless steel 444 were investigated. The hardening caused by aging in both temperatures was measured, it was observed that is more intense at 475  C. Susceptibility to localized corrosion, increased with aging time at the two temperatures, is also significantly more than 475  C to 400  C. In the treatment of dissolution at 570  C and 675  C is the recovery of hardness and corrosion resistance of steel. Unlike the duplex stainless steel, steel AISI 444 did not change in coercive force and the Curie temperature with increasing aging time. The effects in the MÃssbauer spectra were also analyzed.

Os efeitos da composiÃÃo quÃmica na microestrutura e na textura de cinco ligas Fe-Cr-Mo contendo teores de cromo de 17%, 15% e 9% e com percentuais de molibdÃnio de 5%, 7% e 9%, foram investigados. O estudo termodinÃmico das ligas para todas as composiÃÃes pesquisadas mostrou a presenÃa de fases secundÃrias como: Mu (&#956;), Chi (&#967;) e Sigma (&#963;), e uma matriz ferrÃtica nos aÃos. Identificadas atravÃs da anÃlise microestrutural, dos mapas de fase e dos padrÃes de qualidade obtidos na anÃlise por EBSD, a precipitaÃÃo das fases intermetÃlicas dificulta o crescimento de grÃos da matriz ferrÃtica. O efeito da solubilizaÃÃo na microestrutura, no tamanho de grÃo e na dureza das ligas revelou o crescimento dos grÃos com o aumento de tempo de encharque e menor dureza para as ligas solubilizadas, indicando uma matriz monofÃsica ferrÃtica. Para o ensaio de traÃÃo as amostras contendo maiores percentuais de cromo e molibdÃnio, apresentaram maiores limite de resistÃncia à traÃÃo e limite de escoamento, com menor ductilidade. A influÃncia dos teores de cromo e molibdÃnio na variaÃÃo da textura de deformaÃÃo do material mostrou que a elevaÃÃo do teor de cromo aumenta a intensidade de planos {111} e da fibra DL, reduzindo a intensidade da componente {001}<110>. Ao mesmo tempo, a elevaÃÃo do teor de molibdÃnio intensifica a fibra DN, especificamente a componente {111}<112> , tornando a fibra DL menos intensa. / The effects of chemical composition on texture and microstructure of five Fe-Cr-Mo alloys with 17%, 15% and 9% chromium contents and 5%, 7% and 9% molybdenum contents were investigated. The thermodynamic study of alloys for all investigated compositions showed the presence of secondary phases such as Mu (&#956;), Chi (&#967;), Sigma (&#963;) and a ferritic matrix. EBSD technique was used to analyze grain size variation and phase precipitation. The intermetallic phases are obstacle to the grain growth of ferritic matrix and grain growth with increasing exposure time. The effect of solution treatment on the microstructure and hardness of alloys revealed lower hardness for solution treated alloys, indicating a single phase ferritic matrix. For tensile test samples containing higher chromium and molybdenum contents, showed higher yield and tensile strengths, with reduced elongation. The influence of chromium and molybdenum levels in the variation of deformation texture for alloys showed that raising chromium content increases the intensity of {111} planes and RD fiber, reducing the intensity of the component {001} <110>. The increase in molybdenum contents intensifies ND fiber, specifically the component {111} <112>, making the RD fiber less intense.

Ferritic stainless steel is typically used in the automotive industry to fabricate welded tube that is plastically deformed for flanging, bending and necking. The effect of welding parameters during autogenous gastungsten arc welding (GTAW) of thin sheet on the weld metal structure and tensile properties were determined. Two grades of ferritic stainless steels, a titanium-containing Grade 441 and a titanium-free molybdenum-containing Grade 436, were used as base metal. Statistical analysis was used to determine the influence of welding parameters on the microstructure of autogenous GTAW welds. The results of Grade 441 indicated that the welding speed and peak welding current had a statistically significant influence on the amount of equiaxed grains that formed. For Grade 436, the same welding parameters (welding speed and peak welding current) had a statistically significant influence on the grain size of the weld metal grains. The ductility of a tensile test coupon machined parallel to the weld direction, for both base metal grades, was unaffected by the welding parameters or the weld metal microstructure. The elongation was determined by the amount of weld metal in the gauge area of a tensile coupon. The titanium content of the base material seems to have the most significant effect on the formation of equiaxed grains. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

No description available.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The use of active flux in TIG process can be an alternative to increase the productivity since this technique increases the depth of penetration of weld bead maintaining the same parameters of conventional TIG welding. The results obtained indicate that the use of the traditional way of flux application tend to produce slag, which is hard to remove. In order to avoid this problem, are approach is by applying two flux strips alongside the joint, separated by a predetermined distance, defined as parameter \"a\". This technique is called Contraction Controlled Technique (CCT). The result with this methodology was satisfactory, allowing increasing the depth of penetration and ensuring a good weld bead surface finish. The objective of this research is to verify and analyze the influence of the use of Contraction Controlled Technique with the A-TIG process in the welding of ferritic stainless steel. It also aims to identify and quantify the main phenomena involved such as increase of the penetration, the changes in the arc, and changes in mechanical and metallurgical properties of the ferritic steel. For this purpose, it were done welding of ferritic stainless steels surfaces using the Contraction Controlled Technique, varying the width of the parameter \"a\", the distance between the piece and the electrode, the electrical current and welding speed. It was observed that the geometry of the weld beads has suffered modifications such as reduction in width and increased of the penetration of the weld beads for all cases where the active flux was used. The use of the active flux in TIG welding process is a technique that allows the increased of penetration depth of weld maintain keeping the same parameters used in the conventional TIG. However, it was not possible to increase the speed of the welding within the parameters used. When it was employed the technique of controlled contraction in a disalignment joint, the data showed that it is possible to improve results of arc direction, direct it to the edge of the board, using active flux and modifing both the parameter \"a\" and the deviation of the torch (dt). The application of this technique did not cause changes in the toughness or in the microstructure of the fusion zone the ferritic stainless steel. / O uso de fluxo ativo no processo de soldagem TIG pode ser uma alternativa para aumentar a velocidade de soldagem do processo, pois esta técnica permite o aumento da profundidade de penetração do cordão de solda mantendo os mesmo parâmetros empregados no TIG convencional. A principal desvantagem desta técnica reside principalmente na propensão à formação de uma camada oxidada sobre o cordão de solda o que pode também acarretar num acabamento superficial ruim. Uma forma de tirar proveito desta técnica garantindo um bom acabamento do cordão é aplicar o fluxo de tal maneira que, ao invés de uma camada que cubra toda a superfície da chapa, sejam feitas duas faixas de fluxo, separadas por uma distância predeterminada, definida como parâmetro a . Esta técnica é chamada neste trabalho de Técnica da Constrição Controlada (TCC). Desta forma, a camada de fluxo isola eletricamente certas regiões da superfície da peça direcionando a região de incidência do arco e, como a diluição do fluxo na poça de solda é menor, alia-se a vantagem do aumento de penetração com o bom acabamento do cordão de solda. O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar e analisar a influência do uso da Técnica da Constrição Controlada com o processo A-TIG na soldagem do aço inoxidável ferrítico; identificar e quantificar os principais fenômenos envolvidos como, aumento da penetração, alterações no arco voltaico e as possíveis modificações nas propriedades mecânicas e metalúrgicas do aço ferrítico. Para isso, realizou-se a soldagem do aço inoxidável ferrítico empregando a técnica da constrição controlada variando-se a largura do parâmetro a , a distância eletrodo-peça, a corrente de soldagem e a velocidade de soldagem. Foi possível observar que a geometria do cordão de solda sofre modificações como redução na largura e aumento da penetração do cordão de solda para todos os casos em que se empregou o fluxo ativo. Porém, não foi possível um aumento da velocidade de soldagem com os parâmetros empregados. Quando empregada a Técnica da Constrição Controlada em uma junta desalinhada, os dados comprovaram que é possível conseguir resultados de desvios satisfatórios no arco, ou seja, direcioná-lo para a borda da junta, com a utilização de fluxo ativo e a modificação tanto do parâmetro a quanto do desalinhamento na tocha (dt). A aplicação desta técnica não provocou alterações nem na tenacidade nem na microestrutura da zona fundida. / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

Abstract In this thesis, the hot deformation behavior of stabilized 12–27% Cr ferritic stainless steels was investigated in order to find ways to improve the current hot rolling schedules for enhancing texture structures and deep drawability of the end product. Hot deformation was studied using axial and plane strain compression in two thermomechanical simulators: a Gleeble and a TMC machine. In addition to flow stress measurements, the resultant microstructures and textures were investigated using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and the dislocation structures using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the case of 21% Cr steel, industrial multi-pass hot rolling, including low finish rolling temperatures, was simulated in order to investigate the microstructure and texture development under varying deformation conditions. Flow behavior of high-Cr ferritic stainless steels during hot deformation was mainly controlled by intense dynamic recovery. However, the deformation conditions greatly affected the extent of dynamic recovery. Cr increased the flow stress through solid solution hardening, although increasing the Cr content reduced the activation energy for hot deformation. Two modeling approaches for flow stress were successfully applied: an empirical constitutive equation and a dislocation density-based flow stress model. Continuous dynamic recrystallization was identified regardless of the Zener-Hollomon parameter, whereas discontinuous dynamic recrystallization was not observed. Static recrystallization slowed down towards the completion of the process, and especially the &#945; fiber grains were difficult to recrystallize. Static recrystallization was enhanced by lowering the deformation temperature to 800 °C or below due to the accelerating effect of in-grain shear bands on the static recrystallization kinetics. However, an intensifying effect on &#947; fiber texture development was achieved after deformation at 600 °C or below. Two different improved process routes for hot rolling were proposed based on the results: 1) sufficiently long inter-pass times together with lowering the finish rolling temperature in order to promote static recrystallization during inter-pass times and hot band annealing, and 2) hot band annealing preceded by a warm rolling procedure, in which thin gauge hot band is produced by multiple heavy warm rolling deformation passes. / Tiivistelmä Tässä väitöstyössä tutkittiin stabiloitujen 12–27 % kromia sisältävien ferriittisten ruostumattomien terästen käyttäytymistä kuumamuokkauksessa tavoitteena kehittää nykyisin käytössä olevia kuumamuokkauskäytäntöjä lopputuotteen tekstuurirakenteen ja siten sen syvävedettävyyden parantamiseksi. Kuumamuokkausta simuloitiin sylinteri- ja tasomuodonmuutospuristuskokeilla Gleeble- ja TMC-laitteistoissa. Kokeista saatuja jännitys–venymä-käyriä analysoitiin ja syntyneet mikrorakenteet ja tekstuuri tutkittiin EBSD-menetelmällä pyyhkäisyelektronimikroskoopissa sekä dislokaatio- ja erkaumarakenteet läpäisyelektronimikroskoopilla. Lisäksi 21 % kromia sisältävälle teräkselle tehtiin monipistoista kuumavalssausta simuloivia puristuskokeita, joissa varioitiin myös valssauksen lopetuslämpötilaa ja jäähtymisnopeutta. Jännitys–venymä-käyriä mallinnettiin käyttäen sekä empiirisiä yhtälöitä että dislokaatiotiheyteen perustuvaa fysikaalista mallia. Kromipitoisuus kasvatti muodonmuutosvastusta mutta pienensi deformaation aktivaatioenergiaa. Dynaaminen toipuminen oli erittäin voimakasta kuumamuokkauslämpötiloissa, joskin lämpötila ja muodonmuutosnopeus vaikuttivat merkittävästi sen määrään. Jatkuvan dynaamisen rekristallisaation todettiin tapahtuvan riippumatta Zener-Hollomon -parametrin arvosta, mutta epäjatkuvaa dynaamista rekristallisaatiota ei havaittu. Staattinen rekristallisaatio hidastui, kun rekristallisaatioaste saavutti 90 %, ja erityisesti &#945;-rungon rakeet pyrkivät vain toipumaan. Staattista rekristallisaatiota pystyttiin voimistamaan laskemalla muokkauslämpötila 800 °C:een tai sen alle, jolloin rakeiden sisälle syntyi staattisen rekristallisaation ydintymistä nopeuttavia leikkausnauhoja. &#947;-rungon intensiteetti voimistui rekristallisaatiossa kuitenkin vasta, kun muokkauslämpötila oli 600 °C tai tätä matalampi. Koetulosten perusteella ehdotettiin kahta erilaista kuumavalssauspraktiikkaa, joiden avulla kuumanauhan ominaisuuksia voidaan parantaa: 1) staattisen rekristallisaation edistäminen sekä pistojen välillä että kuumanauhahehkutuksessa käyttämällä pitkiä pistojen välisiä aikoja sekä laskemalla valssauksen lopetuslämpötilaa, tai 2) kuumanauhahehkutus yhdistettynä edeltävään voimakkaaseen lämminvalssaukseen, jolloin on mahdollista valmistaa ohutta kuumanauhaa.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the mechanical, microstructural and corrosion performance of the ferritic stainless steel coarse powders, used in Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process. Three coarser powders made by Höganäs AB, were examined along with a commercially available fine MIM powder and samples from sheet metal. The studied powders were individually mixed with binders and then injection molded in the shape of dog bone shaped tensile bars. These green samples were then debinded and sintered to examine under different characterization methods. The methods used for examining the samples were tensile test, hardness test, metallography, SEM, chemical analysis, and salt spray test. After a comparative study of these different materials, it turns out that the chemical composition and the process parameters have more effect on materials properties compared to only particle size distribution in studied materials. After this study, 434 coarse powder was preferred upon the PolyMIM 430 fine powder, because of its lower price and same performance as that of PolyMIM 430.

Os aços inoxidáveis ferríticos são susceptíveis à corrosão intergranular após resfriamento rápido a partir de 950°C. A teoria de empobrecimento no teor de cromo nas vizinhanças do carboneto e/ou nitreto, precipitados nos contornos de grão, é o mecanismo mais aceito para descrever este fenômeno. O presente trabalho avalia o efeito dos tratamentos isotérmicos na resistência à corrosão intergranular do aço inoxidável ferrítico UNS S43000, utilizando o método de reativação eletroquímica potenciodinâmica na versão ciclo duplo (DL-EPR). As amostras foram solubilizadas a 1200°C e posteriormente tratadas isotermicamente a temperaturas entre 500°C e 700°C, por tempos de 5 minutos a 16 horas. O ensaio DL-EPR foi realizado em solução 0,5M H2SO4 com velocidade de varredura de 1,67 mV/s. As amostras foram examinadas em microscópio óptico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura após ensaio DL-EPR, Práticas W e X da norma ASTM A763 e ataque metalográfico com reagente Vilella. Foram obtidos diferentes valores de grau de sensitização em função do tempo de tratamento isotérmico. Análises por difração de raios X, sobre resíduos extraídos quimicamente identificaram precipitação de nitretos e de carbonetos de cromo, Cr2N e Cr23C6, respectivamente. As temperaturas de 550°C e 600°C mostraram dois máximos de grau de sensitização em função do tempo, por isso este processo de sensitização foi denominado de dupla sensitização. A partir dos resultados obtidos: grau de sensitização DL-EPR, exame microestrutura e difração de raios X, o presente trabalho propõe o seguinte mecanismo para explicar a dupla sensitização: (Etapa 1) no resfriamento da temperatura de solubilização são precipitados nos contornos de grão fases ricas em cromo; (Etapa 2) os tratamentos isotérmicos geram uma fina precipitação de Cr2N nos contornos de grão sobre os precipitados formados na Etapa 1; (Etapa 3) esses precipitados são posteriormente dissolvidos o que permite (Etapa 4) uma nova precipitação de Cr2N e Cr23C6 nos contornos de grão e (Etapa 5) finalmente temse o processo de crescimento, coalescimento e recuperação final. A recuperação total da resistência à corrosão intergranular foi obtida após tratamentos isotérmicos realizados a 650°C por tempos maiores que 20 minutos e a 700°C a partir de 5 minutos. O trabalho confirma que tanto os fenômenos de precipitação, sensitização e recuperação são controlados 5 pela difusão do cromo na ferrita. Tal confirmação foi possível a partir de análises da solução da segunda lei de Fick e gráficos de Arrhenius, construídos a partir do ensaio DL-EPR e dos exames microestruturais, os quais indicaram uma energia de ativação de precipitação com valor de 255 kJ/mol (219 kJ/mol é o valor da energia de ativação para difusão do cromo na ferrita encontrado em literatura (ARAI; TAKEDA; ARATA, 1987; WOLFE; PAXTON, 1964)). / Ferritic stainless steels are prone to intergranular corrosion following quick cooling from 950°C. The explanation based on chromium impoverishment near the carbides and/or nitrides precipitated in the grain boundaries is the most accepted to describe the observations. This work study the effects of heat treatments on the resistance to intergranular corrosion of the UNS S43000 ferritic stainless steel, using the Double Loop Electrochemical Potentiodynamic Reactivation test (DL-EPR). Specimens have been solution annealed at 1200oC followed by isothermical holding at temperatures between 500°C and 700°C, for times of 5min up to 16h. The DL-EPR test was made in a 0,5M H2SO4 solution using scan rate of 1,67 mV/s. The specimens were observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope after DLEPR test, Practices W and X (ASTM A763) and metallographic etch with Vilella reagent. Different degrees of sensitization were obtained for different isothermal holding time. X rays diffraction of extracted precipitates identified chromium nitrides and chromium carbides, Cr2N and Cr23C6. The temperatures of 550°C and 600°C produced two maxima in the curves of degree of sensitization as function of time; the process was named double sensitization. From the results of degree of sensitization DL-EPR, microstructural examination and X rays diffraction, this work proposes the following mechanism to explain double sensitization: (1st stage) during cooling from the solution annealing temperature there is grain boundary precipitation of chromium rich phases; (2nd stage) the isothermal treatments produce a fine grain boundary precipitation of Cr2N on the precipitates formed in the 1st stage; (3rd stage) increasing the time, these precipitates are dissolved, allowing for a (4th stage) new grain boundary precipitation of Cr2N e Cr23C6; finally (5th stage) there is growth, coalescence and recovery. Total recovery of intergranular corrosion resistance was achieved, isothermically at 650°C for times longer than 20min and at 700°C for times longer then 5min. Precipitation, sensitization and recovery are controlled by diffusion of chromium in ferrite. This conclusion was based on analysis of solution of Fick’s second law and Arrhenius plots constructed with DL-EPR data and microstructural observations. The calculus of the experimental energy of activation for precipitation produced a value of 255kJ/mol (energy of activation for chromium 7 diffusion in the ferrite reported by Arai, Takeda and Arata (1987) and Wolfe and Paxton (1964) is 219kJ/mol).