Electrochemical behavior of supermartensitic stainless steel was discussed in order to
evaluate the susceptibility to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of
supermartensitic stainless steel (SMSS) subjected to girth welding. Electrochemical
potentiokinetic reactivation (EPR) tests were carried out in various compositions of
electrolytes for a rich grade SMSS containing Mo and a lean grade SMSS containing no Mo.
The aqueous solution of H2SO4 and KSCN mixture is too aggressive for the rich grade
SMSS to detect its intergranular corrosion for the grade of steel. For the lean grade SMSS,
a rise in current density suggesting intergranular corrosion was observed in the EPR test
under a weaker solution in a potential range of –50 to –200 mV vs SCE.
Keywords: supermartensitic stainless steel, intergranular stress corrosion cracking,
electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test, sensitization, post welding heat treatment