Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Properties Evolution of Stainless Steel Cladding Plate

Heat treatments are necessary sometimes in order to improve comprehensive properties of stainless steel cladding plate (SSCP). However, carbon atoms in carbon steel diffuse into stainless cladding during the heat treatment process, thus decreasing its corrosion resistance. In this paper, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and microhardness and shear testing were employed to characterize the microstructure and mechanical properties of the bonding interface in SSCP. Then, the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel cladding surface was evaluated by electrochemical tests. The results showed that the diffusion of carbon atoms played an important role in enhancing the bonding strength of SSCP, but might lead to intergranular sensitization of the cladding surface because of chromium carbide precipitation. Notably, this precipitation could be induced by quenching and tempering treatment, and hindered by solution treatment. Hence, the cladding surface on SSCP after single solution treatment possessed the superior corrosion resistance, and SSCP with continuous solution and tempering treatment exhibited the highest bonding strength.

Automated summary

In this study, the effects of heat treatments on the corrosion resistance and bonding strength of stainless steel cladding plate (SSCP) were investigated. It was found that the diffusion of carbon atoms during heat treatment enhanced the bonding strength of SSCP but also caused intergranular sensitization of the cladding surface. Solution treatment was shown to effectively inhibit this sensitization. The SSCP with continuous solution and tempering treatment exhibited the highest bonding strength.