Martensite transformation induced by deformation and its phase electrochemical behavior for stainless steels AISI 304 and 316L

The martensite transformation induced by tensile elongation and its effect on the behavior of phase electrochemistry of AISI 304 and 316L in 3.5% NaCl solution were studied. The results show that the content of α'-martensite in stainless steel 304 increases with the true strain. As α'-martensite content increased, free corrosion potential and pitting potential of stainless steel 304 in 3.5% NaCl solution appeared the change trend of a minimum. It was also found that pitting nucleated preferentially at the phase interfaces between martensite and austenite. There existed apparent difference between electrochemical properties of austenite and of martensite for stainless steel 304 and 316L in 3.5% NaCl solution.