Use of Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique to localized corrosion evaluation of ASTM F139 stainless steel marked by laser

Abstract

In this study, Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) was used to investigate the effect of marking the surface of the ASTM F139 austenitic stainless steel with laser engraving, on its localized corrosion resistance. Laser marked samples were immersed in a phosphate buffered solution (PBS) with pH 7.4 and the development of anodic and cathodic regions at the interface between heat affected areas by laser beam and not affected regions was evaluated. The results showed that the area with anodic current density was related to the laser regions and the cathodic one was generated on the adjacencies, which was best reveled under polarized conditions.