Investigation on Sensitization of Nitrided AISI 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel at Intermediate Temperature

Austenitic stainless steel is widely used around the globe especially in Oil and Gas industry and it gives about more than 60% of total stainless steel production. However, the application of this material is severely limited by very poor friction and wear behavior. Investigations have been performed to improve surface hardness of ASS by heat treatment thus enlarging their possibility of wider application, but led significant loss of its corrosion resistance.