The effect of microstructure on corrosion behavior of ultra-high strength martensite steel-A literature review

The ultra-high strength martensite steels are widely used in aerospace, ocean engineering, etc., due to their high strength, good ductility and acceptable corrosion resistance. This paper provides a review for the influence of microstructure on corrosion behavior of ultra-high strength martensite steels. Pitting is the most common corrosion type of ultra-high strength stainless steels, which always occurs at weak area of passive film such as inclusions, carbide/intermetallic interfaces. Meanwhile, the chromium carbide precipitations in the martensitic lath/prior austenite boundaries always result in intergranular corrosion. The precipitation, dislocation and grain/lath boundary are also used as crack nucleation and hydrogen traps, leading to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking for ultra-high strength martensite steels. Yet, the retained/reversed austenite has beneficial effects on the corrosion resistance and could reduce the sensitivity of stress corrosion cracking for ultra-high strength martensite steels. Finally, the corrosion mechanisms of additive manufacturing ultra-high strength steels and the ideas for designing new ultra-high strength martensite steel are explored.