Influence of heterogeneous plastic strain fields on the corrosion susceptibility of duplex stainless steels at the microscale

In the present paper, grid points coupled with an image analysis method are used to map strain gradients within grains and across interfaces of duplex stainless steels at the micro- and nanoscale under straining conditions (4.5% plastic strain). Highly heterogeneous strain field are obtained and sites where high strain gradients exist are identified. Local electrochemical meas-urements are then performed in NaCl-based media within these sites by means of the electrochemical microcell technique and 20 11m microcapillaries in order to propose new mechanical-electrochemical criteria leading to a significant enhancement of anodic and/Dr cathodic reactions and pitting susceptibility of deformed materials.