INFLUENCE OF STRAIN DURING COOLING ON THE SENSITIZATION OF TYPE-304 STAINLESS-STEEL

Straining during cooling will enhance sensitization, but strains on the order of 5% are required if only a single cooling cycle is employed. If multiple cycling is used; i. e. , heating and cooling in successive cycles, then strains as small as 0. 8% per cycle promote sensitization providing the peak temperature of each cycle is 800 C. When the peak temperature of each cycle is 1000 C, there was no cumulative effect of multiple cycling, even when 1% strain is applied during each of 10 successive cycles. Air cooling, compared to water quenching after an anneal, can make a specimen more susceptible to sensitization.