Surface Roughness Effect in the Case of Welded Stainless Steel Corrosion Resistance

Abstract It is known that fusion welding can cause a decrease in the corrosion resistance of the heat affected zone of unstabilized stainless steels. The reason for this problem is that the welding heat (in the heat affected zone (HAZ)) can cause chromium-carbide (Cr23C6) precipitation with the simultaneous reduction of chromium content at the local grain boundaries. The chromium content dictates the corrosion resistance level. The relationship between surface roughness and corrosion behaviour is well known. We sought to find the difference between the corrosion resistance and surface roughness relationship in the case of cold rolled stainless steel and in the case of heat treated (welding heat effect simulated) stainless steel [1-3].