What is the relationship between intergranular corrosion and sensitization?
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Is intergranular corrosion that occurs under the action of a corrosive medium after sensitization, or is sensitization itself a form of intergranular corrosion?
Sensitized austenitic stainless steel is prone to intergranular corrosion.
Sensitization leads to the formation of chromium carbide, resulting in chromium depletion at the grain boundaries and the occurrence of intergranular corrosion
If exposed to temperatures in the range of 420–850 degrees for an extended period, austenitic stainless steel will suffer from intergranular chromium depletion due to the precipitation of chromium carbide, thereby increasing the material’s susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. This temperature range is the sensitization zone.
Intergranular corrosion does not occur without sensitization
Sensitization is the tendency of a material to develop intergranular corrosion; that is, if it is sensitized, intergranular corrosion will occur in a specific environmental condition.
Thank you, that’s how I understand it too at the moment.