Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel

The effects of different heat treatment regimes on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of selectively laser melted (SLM) Corrax (CX) stainless steel were systematically investigated. Three distinct thermal processing approaches solution treatment (ST), aging treatment (AT), and combined soluti...

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Main Authors: Shaoqian Wu, Shuo Wu, Shilong Xing, Tianshu Wang, Jiabin Hou, Yuantao Zhao, Zongan Li, Yanbo Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/517
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author Shaoqian Wu
Shuo Wu
Shilong Xing
Tianshu Wang
Jiabin Hou
Yuantao Zhao
Zongan Li
Yanbo Liu
author_facet Shaoqian Wu
Shuo Wu
Shilong Xing
Tianshu Wang
Jiabin Hou
Yuantao Zhao
Zongan Li
Yanbo Liu
author_sort Shaoqian Wu
collection DOAJ
description The effects of different heat treatment regimes on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of selectively laser melted (SLM) Corrax (CX) stainless steel were systematically investigated. Three distinct thermal processing approaches solution treatment (ST), aging treatment (AT), and combined solution aging treatment (ST + AT) were comparatively examined to assess their microstructural evolution and corrosion performance. The results demonstrated that the SLM-processed CX sample initially consisted of martensite and retained austenite. After solution treatment at 900 °C for 0.5 h, microsegregation was eliminated, and the retained austenite fully transformed into martensite. During direct aging at 525 °C for 3 h (AT), a portion of the martensite reverted to austenite, accompanied by grain refinement that reduced the average grain size to 1.79 μm. When the CX was solution-aged at 900 °C for 0.5 h and then 525 °C for 4 h (ST + AT), the retained austenite transformed completely into martensite. The results of potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the aged specimen demonstrated comparatively superior corrosion resistance with reduced surface accumulation of corrosion products relative to both ST and ST + AT specimens. The electrochemical test results indicate that the selection of heat treatment parameters has a significant impact on the corrosion resistance of SLM-formed CX samples. Compared to ST and ST + AT, the corrosion performance of AT-treated samples is improved to a certain extent, with the highest E<sub>pit</sub> (322 mV) and the largest ΔE (742). The corrosion potential is relatively high (E<sub>corr</sub>, −414 mV vs. SCE), and the corrosion current density is relatively low (I<sub>corr</sub>, 0.405 μA·cm<sup>−2</sup>). This indicates that the AT samples exhibit good corrosion resistance.
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spelling doaj-art-96eb5df3c920433db937d56d9688e6fa2025-08-20T02:34:01ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-05-0115551710.3390/met15050517Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless SteelShaoqian Wu0Shuo Wu1Shilong Xing2Tianshu Wang3Jiabin Hou4Yuantao Zhao5Zongan Li6Yanbo Liu7School of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaSchool of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaSchool of Construction Machinery, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, ChinaSchool of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaSchool of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaMerchant Marine College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaSchool of Navigation and Shipping, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaShanghai Nanotechnology and Industry Development Promotion Center, Shanghai 200237, ChinaThe effects of different heat treatment regimes on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of selectively laser melted (SLM) Corrax (CX) stainless steel were systematically investigated. Three distinct thermal processing approaches solution treatment (ST), aging treatment (AT), and combined solution aging treatment (ST + AT) were comparatively examined to assess their microstructural evolution and corrosion performance. The results demonstrated that the SLM-processed CX sample initially consisted of martensite and retained austenite. After solution treatment at 900 °C for 0.5 h, microsegregation was eliminated, and the retained austenite fully transformed into martensite. During direct aging at 525 °C for 3 h (AT), a portion of the martensite reverted to austenite, accompanied by grain refinement that reduced the average grain size to 1.79 μm. When the CX was solution-aged at 900 °C for 0.5 h and then 525 °C for 4 h (ST + AT), the retained austenite transformed completely into martensite. The results of potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the aged specimen demonstrated comparatively superior corrosion resistance with reduced surface accumulation of corrosion products relative to both ST and ST + AT specimens. The electrochemical test results indicate that the selection of heat treatment parameters has a significant impact on the corrosion resistance of SLM-formed CX samples. Compared to ST and ST + AT, the corrosion performance of AT-treated samples is improved to a certain extent, with the highest E<sub>pit</sub> (322 mV) and the largest ΔE (742). The corrosion potential is relatively high (E<sub>corr</sub>, −414 mV vs. SCE), and the corrosion current density is relatively low (I<sub>corr</sub>, 0.405 μA·cm<sup>−2</sup>). This indicates that the AT samples exhibit good corrosion resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/517SLMCX stainless steelheat treatmentcorrosion behavior
spellingShingle Shaoqian Wu
Shuo Wu
Shilong Xing
Tianshu Wang
Jiabin Hou
Yuantao Zhao
Zongan Li
Yanbo Liu
Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
Metals
SLM
CX stainless steel
heat treatment
corrosion behavior
title Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
title_full Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
title_fullStr Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
title_short Effect of Heat Treatment on the Corrosion Behavior of Selective Laser Melted CX Stainless Steel
title_sort effect of heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of selective laser melted cx stainless steel
topic SLM
CX stainless steel
heat treatment
corrosion behavior
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/517
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AT shilongxing effectofheattreatmentonthecorrosionbehaviorofselectivelasermeltedcxstainlesssteel
AT tianshuwang effectofheattreatmentonthecorrosionbehaviorofselectivelasermeltedcxstainlesssteel
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