<p>Heat exchanger tubes are commonly made from stainless steel.In a heat exchanger both the process fluid and the cooling orheating media can be corrosive. It is therefore important to beable to select materials that do not suffer from corrosion.Current methods in this area, however, suffer from limitationsand shortcomings. This thesis concerns corrosion tests forgeneral corrosion, dewpoint corrosion and stress corrosioncracking, respectively. For evaluation of general corrosion ofsuperduplex stainless steels in hydrochloric acid and sulphuricacid the importance of activation was studied. The results showthat activation has a great influence on the test result.Further the results indicate that experimental differences canbe the explanation for previously reported differences incorrosion resistance of superduplex stainless steel that havebeen attributed to the alloying with Cu and W. Furthermore, asimple test loop for testing stainless steels under dew formingconditions with a formed condensate of 1 % hydrochloric acidhas been developed. In the work constant strain and constantload test result have been compared and the observationsindicate that the differences can be explained by differencesin the relaxation properties of the materials.</p><p><b>Key words:</b>corrosion testing, heat exchanger, stainlesssteel, general corrosion, immersion tests, activation, stresscorrosion cracking, constant load, u-bends, relaxation,dewpoint corrosion</p>

Increasing energy demand leads to two crucial problems for the whole society. One is the economic cost and the other is the pollution of the environment, especially CO2 emissions. Despite efforts to adopt renewable energy sources, fossil fuels will continue to dominate. The temperature and stress are planned to be raised to 700 °C and 35 MPa respectively in the advanced ultra-supercritical (AUSC) power plants to improve the operating efficiency. However, the life of the components is limited by the properties of the materials. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the high temperature properties of materials used for future power plants. This thesis contains two parts. The first part is about developing creep rupture models for austenitic stainless steels. Grain boundary sliding (GBS) models have been proposed that can predict experimental results. Creep cavities are assumed to be generated at intersection of subboundaries with subboundary corners or particles on a sliding grain boundary, the so called double ledge model. For the first time a quantitative prediction of cavity nucleation for different types of commercial austenitic stainless steels has been made. For growth of creep cavities a new model for the interaction between the shape change of cavities and creep deformation has been proposed. In this constrained growth model, the affected zone around the cavities has been calculated with the help of FEM simulation. The new growth model can reproduce experimental cavity growth behavior quantitatively for different kinds of austenitic stainless steels. Based on the cavity nucleation models and the new growth models, the brittle creep rupture of austenitic stainless steels has been determined. By combing the brittle creep rupture with the ductile creep rupture models, the creep rupture strength of austenitic stainless steels has been predicted quantitatively. The accuracy of the creep rupture prediction can be improved significantly with combination of the two models. The second part of the thesis is on the fatigue properties of austenitic stainless steels and nickel based superalloys. Firstly, creep, low cycle fatigue (LCF) and creep-fatigue tests have been conducted for a modified HR3C (25Cr20NiNbN) austenitic stainless steel. The modified HR3C shows good LCF properties, but lower creep and creep-fatigue properties which may due to the low ductility of the material. Secondly, LCF properties of a nickel based superalloy Haynes 282 have been studied. Tests have been performed for a large ingot. The LCF properties of the core and rim positions did not show evident differences. Better LCF properties were observed when compared with two other low γ’ volume fraction nickel based superalloys. Metallography study results demonstrated that the failure mode of the material was transgranular. Both the initiation and growth of the fatigue cracks were transgranular. / <p>QC 20160905</p>

Os aços inoxidáveis duplex são materiais com um excelente desempenho, devido às suas sobressalentes propriedades mecânicas e excelente resistência à corrosão. Uma composição química adequada e microestrutura balanceada são as responsáveis por esta combinação de propriedades. No entanto, são estes mesmos fatores que os fazem especialmente susceptíveis à precipitação de fases intermetálicas, com efeitos maléficos no seu desempenho. Durante os ciclos térmicos de uma soldagem multipasse, a precipitação de intermetálicos é crítica. Foi desenvolvido um método para simular os ciclos térmicos de uma solda multipasse. Usando este método, foi estudada a precipitação de nitreto de cromo e fase sigma na zona afetada pelo calor submetida a temperaturas abaixo de 950°C dos aços inoxidáveis duplex UNS S31803 e S32550. Foram estudadas energias de soldagem na faixa de 0,4 a 1,0 kJ/mm. Foi determinada mediante extração de precipitados, seguida de difração de raios X na câmara de Debye-Scherrer e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, a precipitação de nitreto de cromo para energias de soldagem de 0,4 a 1,0 kJ/mm e de fase sigma para energias de soldagem de 0,6-1,0 KJ/mm, no UNS S32550. Já o UNS S31803 não apresentou precipitação alguma para as energias de soldagem estudadas. Baseando-se nos resultados verifica-se que durante uma soldagem multipasse o UNS S31803 é menos propenso que o UNS S32550 à precipitação de intermetálicos na zona afetada pelo calor submetida a temperaturas abaixo de 950°C. / Duplex stainless steels belong to a group of high performance stainless steels regarding to corrosion and mechanical properties. These achievements are related to a suitable chemical composition and a balanced microstructure. During welding thermal cycles the microstructure changes and, consequently, corrosion and mechanical properties might be impaired due to a precipitation of intermetallic phases. This precipitation is an issue to be addressed for multipass welding. It was developed a method for simulate the multipass welding thermal cycles. Using this method chromium nitride and sigma phase precipitation was studied in a simulated heat affected zone of multipass welding (three passes) of UNS S31803 and UNS S32550 duplex stainless steels with different heat inputs (0,4 to 1,0 kJ/mm). The HAZ simulated region was below 950°C maximum temperature. Microstructural characterization of simulated samples showed discontinuous films of a precipitated phase at ferrite/ferrite grain boundaries and ferrite/austenite interfaces were observed only in a UNS S32550 duplex grade for all heat inputs simulated. This suggests that sigma phase and chromium nitride precipitation took place during sample thermocycling. X-ray diffraction in a Debye-Scherrer chamber of extracted precipitates and electron diffraction by TEM confirmed the presence of chromium nitrides for all range of heat input studied and sigma phase for heat input above 0,6 kJ/mm. On the other hand, microstructural analysis of UNS S31803 simulated samples did not present precipitation of intermetallic phases in the tested temperature range of HAZ. Based on these results, UNS S31803 is more resistant than UNS S32550 to intermetallic phases precipitation in multipass welding.

A corrosão seletiva de fases de dois tipos de aços inoxidáveis fundidos foi analisada, ao serem submetidos a vários valores constantes de potencial, a partir da região catódica para a anódica da curva de polarização. Os aços estudados foram: austenítico (ACI CF-3M) solubilizado e martensítico (ACI CA-6NM) normalizado e revenido. As curvas de polarização foram traçadas potenciodinamicamente, a uma velocidade de varredura de 0,16 m.V.s-1 em solução aerada contendo H2SO4 1M e NaCl 1M, pH 0,35, à temperatura ambiente. Vários valores de potencial foram selecionados, previamente localizados nas regiões catódica, ativa, passiva e transpassiva da curva de polarização. Potenciostaticamente, foram atingidos os valores de potencial selecionados, sendo eles mantidos fixos por 1800 s. Após o ataque potenciostático, as aparências metalográficas dos aços foram verificadas, desde a região catódica até a anódica. Por microssonda eletrônica, foram quantificados os elementos químicos presentes nas fases dos aços. Para melhor avaliar o início de propagação de pite, foi determinada a porcentagem de íons liberados para o eletrólito, após a imposição de valores de potencial críticos de pite predeterminados pelas curvas de polarização, pelas aparências metalográficas e pelas curvas de densidade de corrente em função do tempo. / The selective corrosion of phases present in two types of cast stainless steels was analyzed, when submitled to several constant values of potential, starting from the cathodic to the anodic regions of the polarization curve. The cast stainless steels were: austenitic (ACI CF-3M) solubilized and martensitic (ACI CA-6NM) normalized and tempered. The polarization curves were obtained at a scanning rate of 0.16 mV.s-1 in 1M H2S04 and 1M NaCI solution, pH 0.35 and at room temperature. Several potential values were selected, previously located in the cathodic, active, passive and transpassive regions of the polarization curve. The values of the selected potential were maintained fixed for 1800 s. After the potentiostatic etching, the metallographic appearances of the steels were verified, from the cathodic to the anodic region. Through electronic microprobe analysis, the present chemical elements were quantified in the phases of the steels. For betler evaluating the beginning of pitling propagation in the studied steels, liberated ion percentage for the solution was determined, after the imposition of critic pitting potential values predetermined from the polarization curves, through the metallographic appearances obtained after potentiostatic etching of the samples and the current density curves as a function of time.

The environmentally-assisted fatigue crack growth behaviour of austenitic stainless steels in deoxygenated high temperature water at low strain rates has been reported to be greatly affected by the sulphur (S) content of the specimen, with high S specimens exhibiting significant reduced crack growth rates (retardation) when compared to low S specimens. To further the understanding of the mechanistic behaviour, fatigue crack growth experiments have been performed on high and low sulphur Type 316 austenitic stainless steel specimens tested in high temperature water and evaluated via microstructural characterisation techniques. At high strain rates the enhanced crack growth for both specimens appeared to be crystallographic and associated with slip localization. Furthermore, matching fracture surface analysis indicated discrepancy of the slip steps and micro-cleavage cracks between the matching surfaces, suggesting that slip steps and micro-cleavage cracking occurred after the crack-tip had advanced. It was also postulated that their formation may involve cathodically-produced hydrogen and shear deformation on the fracture surface. However, when the loading frequency was decreased, the high S specimens retarded the crack growth and the path was no longer crystallographic. Significant differences in the crack-tip opening displacements were observed in both materials, with blunt crack-tips in the high sulphur specimen and sharp tips in the low sulphur specimen when the strain rate was low. EBSD analysis at the crack-tips of both specimens showed that the strain was more localised at the crack-tip of the low sulphur specimen whist the strain ahead of the high sulphur specimen was more homogenous. It is thus postulated that retardation occurs when slip localisation is no longer the dominant factor. The localised deformation during enhancement is believed to have been caused by hydrogen enhanced localised plasticity (HELP) which causes the crack-tip to sharpen. The diffused strain distribution during crack growth retardation is believed to have been caused by hydrogen enhanced creep (HEC) which causes the crack-tip to blunt. It is also believed that both enhancement and retardation mechanisms are associated with contrasting effects deriving from hydrogen enhanced plasticity. Oxide induced crack closure was excluded as a mechanism responsible for retardation of fatigue crack growth when the stress ratio is high. Effects of hydrogen induced alpha' and ε martensite phases on oxidation behaviour of austenitic stainless steels in deoxygenated high temperature water have also been studied. Microstructural characterisation shows that hydrogen induced alpha' martensite enhances oxidation of austenitic stainless steels in deoxygenated high temperature water. The implications of this finding on environmentally assisted cracking of austenitic stainless steels in deoxygenated high temperature water is discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:43:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jamil M Guimaraes Junior.pdf: 6099500 bytes, checksum: a74509c2e4fa6af13be50e78a82c9a13 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Stainless steels with properties which allow high conformability and satisfactory mechanical resistance due to phase transformations are becoming prominently active for industries and metallurgical research centers. Therefore, the phenomena related to the work hardening must be understood and mastered, once the strain has an extremely important function on the phase transformation of these materials. For the investigations, are conducted different kinds of strains on the stainless steels by filing, compression and cold rolling at 12%, 31%, 50%, 70%, 80% and 90% reduction levels. In order to compare the materials, are conducted the following technics: optical microscopy, EDS, EBSD, X ray diffraction, hardness measurements and ferritoscope. The high hardness presented by these as received materials is attributed to the fact that they were not annealed. Low rolled steels showed high transformation into ε-martensite, and high rolled levels (like 90%) showed high grain elongation and very high α’- martensite fractions. Filling and compression also showed high α’- martensite fractions for the AISI 304. However, the AISI 316 didn’t show a significant fraction of α’- martensite after the compression test. Therefore, the high hardness showed by AISI 316 steel after the compression test is certainly due to classic work hardening mechanisms, not due to a α’- martensite transformation, which depends on the Stacking Fault Energy (SFE). / Aços inoxidáveis com propriedades que permitam alta conformabilidade aliada a resistência mecânica satisfatória devido a transformações de fase vêm sendo destaque nas indústrias e centros de pesquisa de metalurgia. Para tanto, os fenômenos relacionados ao encruamento devem ser compreendidos e dominados, pois os processos de deformação desempenham uma função extremamente importante na transformação de fases desses materiais. As investigações são conduzidas com deformações plásticas nos aços inoxidáveis por meio de limagem, compressão a 60% de redução da altura e laminação a níveis de 12%, 31%, 50%, 70%, 80% e 90% de redução. Para fins comparativos, são conduzidas análises microestruturais por meio de: microscopia óptica, EDS, EBSD, difração de raios X, medidas de dureza e ferritoscopia. Percebeu-se uma dureza acima do esperado nos materiais inicialmente caracterizados devido ao fato de os mesmos não estarem na condição de recozidos. Baixos níveis de redução na espessura promoveram elevados índices de transformação da austenita para martensita ε, enquanto que altos níveis de redução resultaram em elevado alongamento dos grãos e as maiores frações de martensita α’ entre todas as condições de deformação. Deformação por meio de limagem e por meio de compressão promoveram altos índices de transformação da austenita em martensita α’ para o aço inoxidável AISI 304, porém quando submetido à compressão, o aço AISI 316 não apresentou consideráveis frações de martensita na microestrutura. Sendo assim, conclui-se que o aumento de dureza do aço AISI 316 se deu por mecanismos clássicos de endurecimento, e não pela formação de martensita induzida por deformação. Isso porque a tendência em formar martensita induzida por deformação é dependente da EDE, e consequentemente, da composição química do material.

Submitted by Angela Maria de Oliveira (amolivei@uepg.br) on 2019-02-08T11:08:03Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Willian Ricardo.pdf: 8465496 bytes, checksum: a01921f9da37abb9909a79e5b398408c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-08T11:08:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Willian Ricardo.pdf: 8465496 bytes, checksum: a01921f9da37abb9909a79e5b398408c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-24 / Turbinas hidráulicas usadas em usinas hidrelétricas podem apresentar desgastes por cavitação e trincas em sua operação, as quais em alguns casos reparadas por soldagem a arco elétrico, por ser um processo de menor custo em comparação à troca da turbina. O aço inoxidável martensítico A743 grau CA6NM é empregado em serviços que requerem boa resistência mecânica associada a resistência à corrosão, principalmente em equipamento para extração de petróleo nos rotores e componentes de turbinas hidráulicas. Este trabalho tem por escopo analisar a microestrutura formada após processo de soldagem TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) de um aço ASTM A743 CA6NM, usando material de adição similar, avaliando a presença da estrutura ferrita delta, austenita retida e carbonetos. Variando as espessuras das amostras e parâmetros de soldagem como passe único de soldagem e multipasse, mantendo temperatura de pré-aquecimento e interpasse de150ºC. Estimando a influência dos parâmetros na microestrutura com a dureza dos cordões e da ZTA. Os experimentos revelaram que um único passe de solda é suficiente para a formação de ferrita delta na forma de rede ao longo do cordão de solda e nas regiões expostas a altas temperaturas na zona termicamente afetada (ZTA), assim como o perfil de durezas da seção transversal do cordão de solda apontam durezas que variam desde 344 ± 6 HV para a região fundida, passando por um pico de dureza de 379 ± 4 HV na ZTA e terminando no metal base com 290 ± 5 HV, na solda multipasse a origem das diferentes morfologias de ferrita é múltipla, havendo uma diferença da taxa de resfriamento nos cordões,sendo que entre a base e o topo da solda pode ser percebido acumulo de ferrita delta na região interpasse e no topo do ultimo cordão de solda e a variação de largura da ZTA pelos passes subsequentes, a morfologia da ferrita delta zona termicamente afetada (ZTA) na condição multipasse, assim como o perfil de durezas da seção transversal dos cordões de solda apontam durezas que variam desde 311 ± 24 HV para a região fundida, passando por um pico de dureza de 326 ± 33 HV na ZTA. / Hydraulic turbines used in hydroelectric plants may present wear by cavitation and cracks in their operation, and in some cases repaired by electric arc welding, being a process of lower cost compared to the turbine exchange. A743 grade martensitic stainless steel CA6NM is used in services that require good mechanical resistance associated with corrosion resistance, especially in oil extraction equipment, rotors and hydraulic turbine components. This work aims to analyze the microstructure formed after TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding of an ASTM A743 CA6NM steel, using similar addition material, evaluating the presence of the delta ferrite, retained austenite and carbides structure. By varying the sample thicknesses and welding conditions as single pass welding and multipass, maintaining preheating temperature and interpass of 150ºC. Estimating the influence of the parameters in the microstructure with the hardness of the strands and the ZTA. The experiments revealed that a single soldering pass is sufficient for the formation of delta ferrite in the form of a net along the weld bead and in the regions exposed to high temperatures in the thermally affected zone (ZTA), as well as the hardness profile of the section cross section of the weld beads indicate hardness ranging from 344 ± 6 HV to the molten region, passing through a hardness peak of 379 ± 4 HV in the ZTA and ending in the base metal with 290 ± 5 HV, in the multipass weld the origin of the different In the present study, the ferrite morphologies are multiple, with a difference in the cooling rate in the cords, between the base and the top of the weld it is possible to detect the accumulation of delta ferrite in the interpass region and at the top of the last weld bead and the ZTA The thermally affected zone delta ferrite (ZTA) morphology in the multipass condition, as well as the cross section hardness profile of the weld beads, point to hardnesses that vary from 311 ± 24 HV for the molten region, passing through a hardness peak of 326 ± 33 HV in the ZTA.

Aços inoxidáveis duplex (AID) são materiais amplamente utilizados para uma grande variedade de aplicações desde a indústria química, de alimentos, petroquímica, naval, farmacêutica, energia nuclear e em muitos outros campos devido à combinação de suas excelentes propriedades mecânicas e de resistência à corrosão. Particularmente na indústria petroquímica, os aços AID’s são muito utilizados como materiais estruturais para a construção de gasodutos que transportam altos volumes de CO2 e na confecção das camadas internas dos tubos flexíveis (oleodutos offshore), utilizadas na produção de óleo. A soldagem a arco dos AID’s pode acarretar, dependendo das taxas de resfriamento envolvidas, a formação de precipitados de segunda fase que degradam suas propriedades mecânicas. Um processo alternativo para evitar o problema de precipitação de fases indesejáveis é a utilização do processo de soldagem/reparo por fricção com pino consumível (SFPC). O objetivo do presente trabalho é a caracterização metalúrgica e mecânica de juntas de solda de aço inoxidável duplex UNS S31803 obtidas através dos processos SFPC e de soldagem de costura por fricção (SCF). Na soldagem SCF, o objetivo do estudo foi a verificação da influência do passo de soldagem na formação e alteração das estruturas e nas propriedades mecânicas. Os resultados dos ensaios foram comparados com as propriedades obtidas do material base (MB) “como recebido”. A partir das juntas soldadas obtidas por fricção, foram extraídos corpos de prova para ensaios de microtração e Charpy para avaliação da resistência mecânica e da resistência ao impacto. Análises da microestrutura em microscopia ótica (MO) e perfis de microdurezas ao longo da região de solda também foram realizadas. Verificou-se que os processos de soldagem SFPC e SCF provocam um intenso refinamento de grão na zona de mistura (região da interface entre material do pino e da base), modificando a estrutura lamelar de grãos alongados da matriz ferrítica/austenítica, ocasionado por uma ação conjunta de aquecimento e deformação plástica oriunda do processo de solda por fricção. Os resultados dos ensaios de microtração indicam que as juntas soldadas aumentaram sua resistência mecânica com relação ao material base, fato que se deve ao aumento da quantidade da ferrita na zona termomecanicamente afetada (ZTMA), à formação de nitretos de cromo no centro dos grãos ferríticos e ao refino de grão. O aumento da quantidade de ferrita na ZTMA ocorre devido às altas taxas de resfriamento envolvidas no processo de soldagem e verificados por análise térmica. As elevadas taxas de resfriamento dificultam a difusão do nitrogênio que tem um importante papel no equilíbrio de fases da estrutura duplex (ferrita-austenita), na soldagem. O nitrogênio aprisionado no interior do grão ferrítico produz nitretos de cromo deixando de agir como elemento gamagênico aumentando a quantidade da fase ferrita. As juntas soldadas verificadas apresentaram tenacidade aceitável de acordo com o exigido pela norma ASTM A923. / Duplex stainless steels (DSS) are materials widely used for a variety of applications from the chemical, food, petrochemical, marine, pharmaceutical, nuclear industry and other fields due to the combination of their excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Particularly in the petrochemical industry, the DSS’s steels are extensively used as structural materials for the construction of gas pipelines that carry high volumes of CO2 and making the inner layers of flexible pipes (pipelines offshore) used in offshore oil production. The arc welding of DSS's can lead, depending on cooling rates involved, the formation of second phase precipitates which degrade their mechanical properties. An alternative method to avoid the problem of precipitation of unwanted phase is to use the welding process Friction Hydro Pillar Processing (FHPP). The aim of this work is the metallurgical and mechanical characterization of joints welds of UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel obtained through FHPP processes and Friction Taper Stitch Welding (FTSW). In FTSW welding, the objective of the study was to verify the influence of the welding step on the formation and alteration of structures and mechanical properties. The test results were compared with the properties of the obtained base material "as received". From the welds joints obtained by friction welding, specimens for microtensile testing and charpy were extracted to evaluate the mechanical strength and toughness. Microstructural analysis in optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microhardness profiles along the weld region were also performed. It was found that the welding process FHPP and FTSW causes an intense grain refinement in bonding zone, modifying the lamellar structure of elongate grains of matrix ferritic/austenitic, caused by action of heating and plastic deformation arising from the welding process by friction. The results of the microtensile tests indicate that the welded joints increased their mechanical resistance with respect to the base material, due to the increase in the amount of the ferrite in the thermomechanically affected zone (ZTMA), the formation of chromium nitrides in the center of ferritic grains and grain refining. The increase in the amount of ferrite in the ZTMA occurs due to the high cooling rates involved in the welding process and verified by thermal analysis. The high cooling rates difficult the nitrogen diffusion, which plays an important role in the phase equilibrium of the duplex structure (ferrite-austenite) in welding. The nitrogen trapped inside the ferritic grain produces chromium nitrides ceasing to act as gamogenic element by increasing the amount of the ferrite phase. The welds joints verified also had acceptable ductility and toughness according required by standard ASTM A923.

Les aciers inoxydables sont employés dans des secteurs d’activitéspour lesquels les caractéristiques mécaniques et la résistance à lacorrosion sont primordiaux. Les nuances austéno-ferritiques sansmolybdène (lean-duplex), ont une résistance à la corrosion et despropriétés mécaniques supérieures aux aciers inoxydables austénitiques.Cependant, leur usinabilité est inférieure à celle de leur homologueausténitique. Pour améliorer cette propriété des éléments peuvent êtreajoutés dans les nuances, tel que le niobium. L’objectif de cette étude estd’améliorer l’usinabilité des lean-duplex sans dégrader les autrespropriétés. Différentes teneurs en niobium ont été ajoutées dans un1.4362 pour comprendre comment cet élément affecte la microstructure,la résilience, et la résistance à la corrosion par piqûres. Ces résultatsvont permettre de définir une teneur en niobium optimale. Pour finir, desessais d’usinabilité et de résilience ont été effectués sur des couléesindustrielles de 1.4362 avec et sans niobium après divers traitementsthermiques pour comprendre l’influence d’un ajout de niobium sur cesdeux propriétés. / Stainless steels are used in some industries requiring mechanicalproperties and corrosion resistance. Lean duplex have higher corrosionresistance and mechanical properties than the austenitic stainless steels.However, their machinability is below that of the corresponding austeniticstainless steels. To improve it, some elements can be added in thegrade, like niobium. The aim of this study is to increase machinability oflean duplex grades without degrading their other properties. Differentcontents of niobium were tested in a 1.4362 to understand how thiselement affects the microstructure, the toughness and the pittingcorrosion resistance. With these results optimum niobium content isdefined. Turning and toughness experiments were done on industrial1.4362 grades with and without niobium and with different heatstreatments in order to understand how niobium can influence theseproperties.

Os aços inoxidáveis correspondem a aços com diferenças de composição e microestrutura. Desta forma, o comportamento em corrosão é consequentemente diferente. Para avaliar este aspecto, aços com PREN variando de aproximadamente 11 a 35% foram analisados por curvas de polarização. A motivação principal desse trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de cada aço inoxidável com uso de diferentes técnicas (impedância eletroquímica e circuitos elétricos equivalentes) e também na nova técnica de mapas de impedância, da influência do PREN na corrosão em meio de 3,5% NaCl a 25C. A partir dessas curvas, os potenciais de pites e de densidade de corrente de corrosão foram obtidos. Além disto, foram empregados mapas de diagrama de impedância eletroquímica para visualizar o efeito do potencial aplicado, desde o potencial catódico até além do potencial de pite desses aços. Pôde-se observar que o módulo de impedância se reduz abruptamente quando surge o pite. Ademais, há uma alteração do ângulo característico para frequências da ordem de 1 kHz. Para dois aços inoxidáveis, UNS S30400 e UNS S31600, foram utilizados os diagramas de impedância obtidos dos mapas e estimados a evolução dos parâmetros relacionados a um circuito elétrico equivalente para potenciais aplicados. / Stainless steels account for steels with different in composition and microstructure. Thus, the corrosion behavior is consequently different. To assess this, steels with PREN ranging from 11% to 35% were analyzed by polarization curves. The main motivation of this work was the evaluation the behavior of each stainless steel via different techniques (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and equivalent electrical circuit), as well as the use of the new technique of impedance maps, on the influence of PREN on the corrosion in 3.5% NaCl at 25C. From these curves, the pitting potential and corrosion current density were obtained. In addition, maps were used diagram electrochemical impedance to view the effect of the applied potential, from the cathodic potential up to the pitting potential of these steels. It can be observed that the modulus of impedance decays abruptly when pitting take place. Moreover, there is a change in the angle characteristic for frequencies in the order of 1 kHz. For two stainless steels, i.e,. UNS S30400 and UNS S31600, the diagrams of maps were used to monitoring the evolution parameters related to an electrical equivalent circuit for the applied potentials.