The sensitization of austenitic stainless steels is dependent on various factors such as chemical composition, heat treatment temperature and time. To study these effects, the degree of sensitization in five austenitic stainless steel compositions that were subjected to isothermal heat treatments in the temperature range 550 - 820 °C has been determined using double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation testing. The nucleation and growth of grain boundary M₂₃C₆ carbides, that are responsible for sensitization, has been modelled with the help of the precipitation and diffusion modules in Thermo-Calc, assuming local multicomponent equilibrium, flux balance at the carbide-matrix interface, to quantitatively predict the Cr depletion. Based on the Cr depletion characteristics, a depletion parameter has been established that can predict sensitization in austenitic stainless steels and predict the effects of individual alloying elements.

奥氏体不锈钢的敏化度取决于各种因素，例如化学成分，热处理温度和时间。为了研究这些影响，已经使用双回路电化学电位动力学再活化测试确定了在550-820°C的温度范围内进行了等温热处理的五种奥氏体不锈钢组合物中的敏化度。M ₂₃ C ₆晶界的成核与生长负责敏化的碳化物已经通过Thermo-Calc中的沉淀和扩散模块进行了建模，假设局部多组分平衡，碳化物-基质界面处的通量平衡，可以定量地预测Cr的消耗。基于Cr的耗尽特性，已经建立了可以预测奥氏体不锈钢敏化并预测各个合金元素影响的耗尽参数。