This study was conducted to evaluate the corrosion resistance and optimize the heat-treatment process of AISI 439 ferrite stainless steel silicon and tin alloys with reduced chromium. The microstructure of the specimens and deposition under each condition were analyzed. The production of oxide films was compared based on the thickness of the film and the change in the contents of each element. In addition, electrochemical analyses of each heat-treatment condition was used to quantitatively compare corrosion resistance and passive film stability based on the relative chromium, silicon, and tin contents. It was found that the addition of silicon and tin compensated for the decrease in corrosion resistance induced by the chromium reduction. The addition of the two elements inhibited iron (Fe) oxide production in the surface oxide film, thereby improving the corrosion resistance of the material and improving the stability of the passive film. Moreover, the SiO2 and SnO2 layers inhibited the production of Fe oxide and contributed to the stability of the film along with Cr2O3, the main component of the passive film. However, when the heat treatment temperature increased above a specific temperature, the oxide inhibitory effect of the two elements was relatively offset. Nevertheless, further research to optimize the content of the three elements will help develop materials with superior mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

This study evaluated changes in delta-ferrite content depending on the preheating of AISI 316L stainless steel. We also determined the reasons for the variation in delta-ferrite content, which affects corrosion resistance. Changes in delta-ferrite content after preheating was confirmed using a Feritscope, and the microstructure was analyzed using optical microscopy (OM). We found that the delta-ferrite microstructure size decreased when preheating time was increased at 1295 oC, and that the delta-ferrite content could be controlled through preheating. Potentiodynamic polarization test were carried out in NaCl (0.5 M) + H2SO4 (0.5 M) solution, and it was found that higher delta-ferrite content resulted in less corrosion potential and passive potential. To determine the cause, an analysis was conducted using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), which confirmed that higher delta-ferrite content led to weaker corrosion resistance, due to Cr degradation at the delta-ferrite and austenite boundaries. The degradation of Cr on the boundaries between austenite and delta-ferrite can be explained by the difference in the diffusion coefficient of Cr in the ferrite and austenite. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of material used for actual semiconductor piping confirmed that corrosion begins at the delta-ferrite and austenite boundaries. These results confirm the need to control delta-ferrite content in AISI 316L stainless steel used for semiconductor piping.