Aiming at an analysis of the microstructural evolution and corrosion resistance of the weld metal in steel AISI 317L, obtained by GTAW process, conducted to evaluate the effect of prolonged exposure at 550 ° C by thermal treatment for 200h, 300h and 400h. After each treatment microstructural characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Double loop electrochemical polarization reactivation tests (DL-EPR) were performed to evaluate the degree of sensitization of the samples. The results indicated that increasing the exposure time at 550 ºC promoted the progressive formation of intermetallic phases, which caused corrosion decay of the weld metal. These results contribute to a better prediction of the behavior of AISI 317L welded joins during operation of the process equipment industry.
AISI 317L austenitic stainless steel; GTAW process; DL-EPR; Deleterious phases
