ASTM A 744 Gr. CN3MN superaustenitic stainless steel is employed in the manufacture of equipments designed to work in severely corrosive environments under mechanical loads. This research investigated the influence of aging heat treatments on the microstructure and impact properties of this type of material. These treatments were carried out at temperature of 900ºC for different periods of time: 1.5; 12; 24; 36 and 48 hours. Impact Charpy tests were conducted at room temperature and -46°C for all heat treated samples. The microstructural analyses were carried out by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was concluded that as long as the steel was exposed to 900ºC, the energy absorbed during impact was lower. After 1.5 hours at 900ºC the impact energy dropped from 128 to 25 Joules. The samples heat treated at 900ºC for 48 hours showed precipitation of some phases at the austenitic matrix: the most probable were sigma (σ), chi (χ) and M23C6 carbide.
Stainless steel; superaustenitic stainless steel; aging heat treatment; microstructure; corrosion; precipitates
