Effect of Phase Composition and Microstructure of Oxide Scale on the Corrosion Resistance of SS400 Hot Rolled Strip

Abstract

Different phase compositions and microstructures of oxide scales were formed on the surface of SS400 hot rolled alloys by employing various heat treatment processes. Cyclic wet-dry immersion corrosion test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the corrosion resistance of strips with scales fabricated by different heat treatment processes. The results reveal that difference in the corrosion resistance of the various scales is due to the difference in the grain size of Fe3O4phase. Furthermore, the difference in the corrosion resistance of different oxide phases, exhibited by various scales, also render the strips to give various corrosion behaviors. It is surmised that the strip with oxide scale, which consist of a small mount of the outer layer Fe2O3phase distributed continuously and a large quantity of the inner layer Fe3O4phase with the fine grain size, and possess nice compactness, continuity, integrity in the morphology structure, has the best corrosion resistance.