Study of the feasibility of using the acoustic emission method to determine the corrosion resistance of austenitic steels

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Abstract

Abstract: Problem. Intergranular corrosion (IGC) is one of the most dangerous types of corrosion affecting chromium-nickel austenitic steels. With low degrees of IGC damage, the dimensions of the affected surface zones are small, making them reliably detectable only through metallographic examination, which reduces the efficiency and reliability of inspection. Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of increasing the reliability of testing austenitic steels for susceptibility to intergranular corrosion by applying the acoustic emission (AE) method during testing. Methods. The object of study was 12Kh18N9 austenitic steel. Specimens of the steel were subjected to various heat treatments and corrosion treatments to induce intergranular corrosion with varying degrees of damage. The specimens were then tested for resistance to IGC according to GOST 6032–2017 using a static three-point bending test, in which the acoustic emission method was applied in addition to the standard test procedure. Results. The application of the AE method during mechanical testing of austenitic steel specimens made it possible to detect IGC even at low levels of corrosion damage, This was achieved through an up to tenfold increase in AE activity and an increase in AE pulse amplitudes from 60 dB to 90 dB. Moreover, the AE method allows the identification of the sensitised state of austenitic steel by detecting an increase in the proportion of hits with amplitudes exceeding 50 dB (from 0.046 to 0.155), without requiring additional metallographic examination. Conclusions. The AE method can be used during testing of austenitic steel specimens for resistance to IGC to improve the reliability of results, since AE parameters differ significantly between specimens in the initial state, those in the sensitised state, and those with pronounced IGC.

About the authors

Vera A. Barat

National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (NRU MPEI); : Interunis-IT

Email: vera.barat@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0201-4532

Doctor of Sciences (Engineering), Associate Professor, Professor

Russian Federation, 111250, Russia, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya Street, 14, Bldg. 1.; 111024, Russia, Moscow, Shosse Entuziastov, 20 B.

Artem Yu. Marchenkov

National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (NRU MPEI)

Email: art-marchenkov@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0806-7336

PhD (Engineering), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, 111250, Russia, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya Street, 14, Bldg. 1.

Anastasiya A. Pankina

National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (NRU MPEI)

Author for correspondence.
Email: pankina_anastasiia@mail.ru

postgraduate student

Russian Federation, 111250, Russia, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya Street, 14, Bldg. 1.

Nikita V. Lavrik

National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (NRU MPEI)

Email: LavrikNV@mpei.ru

student

Russian Federation, 111250, Russia, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya Street, 14, Bldg. 1.

Egor A. Lepsheev

National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute (NRU MPEI); Interunis-IT

Email: LepsheevYA@mpei.ru

student, researcher

Russian Federation, 111250, Russia, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya Street, 14, Bldg. 1.; 111024, Russia, Moscow, Shosse Entuziastov, 20B.

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Copyright (c) 2026 Barat V.A., Marchenkov A.Y., Pankina A.A., Lavrik N.V., Lepsheev E.A.

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