Abstract
Stainless steel is useful material for various industrial facilities such as the nuclear and steam power plant and the heavy chemical industry due to its good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. However, it has also a large problem that is sensitized in the welding process and its corrosion resistance and mechanical properties decreases by sensitization. Thus, corrosion and corrosion fatigue characteristics of artificially sensitized austenitic STS304 were investigated through the EPR test and corrosion fatigue test. Obtained results are as follows: 1) According to the sensitizing period increase, Cr deficiency layer is linearly expanded. 2) Degree of sensitization(Ia/Ir) proportionally increased with sensitizing period. However, after 4hrs, it showed constant value. 3) Cr-carbide($Cr_{23}C_6$) in the grain boundary increased as sensitizing period increases until six hours. 4) corrosion fatigue strength of sensitized STS304 were remarkably reduced compare to non-sensitized ones.