Influence of plastic deformation on electrochemical properties of X5CrNi18-10 steel

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of plastic deformation on the electrochemical properties of X5CrNi18-10 steel. The tested material belongs to the group of stainless steels with low carbon content, and it is used in many industries due to its high corrosion resistance. In most applications of the tested material, it is formed into complicated shapes and exposed to aggressive environments. Examples include the applications in medicine (implants) as well as in civil engineering and nuclear power plants. Different effects of deformation on anti-corrosion properties have been described in the literature. Samples with 5 different deformations were obtained in the present experiment. Electrochemical direct electrical current and alternating electrical current tests were performed for the obtained materials. The tests were carried out in a 1 molar sodium chloride solution. The study revealed an increase in the corrosion resistance of samples with increasing strain in the tested strain ranges.