Austenite-preferential corrosion attack in 316 austenitic stainless steel weld metals

Pitting immersion test performed on 316 austenitic stainless steel weld metals showed that austenite is the preferential phase for corrosion attack in 3% ferric chloride solution at critical pitting temperature. This is attributed to the primary austenite solidification mode, with the cores of the cellular dendrites depleted in chromium and nickel relative to the normal composition.