Cryogenic processing for enhanced mechanical strength and corrosion resistance in DSS2205

This study investigates the influence of Deep Cryogenic Treatment (DCT) on the mechanical and electrochemical properties of duplex stainless steel DSS2205 subjected to treatment durations of 3, 6, and 24 h. The results reveal distinct variations in mechanical performance following cryogenic treatment. Tensile strength and hardness increased progressively for the 3 h and 6 h DCT conditions, reaching maximum improvements of approximately 6% and 8%, respectively, at 6 h; however, the 24 h treatment exhibited slightly reduced gains. All DCT durations led to a marginal decrease in impact toughness, as evidenced by a reduction in absorbed impact energy, indicating a trade-off between strengthening and toughness. Electrochemical corrosion studies demonstrated a substantial enhancement in corrosion resistance, with the corrosion rate reduced by up to 98.5% in the 6 h treated condition, attributed to improved passivation behavior. Overall, the findings suggest that DCT can serve as an effective and cost-efficient post-processing technique to enhance the strength and corrosion resistance of DSS2205, provided that the treatment duration is carefully optimized to avoid excessive deterioration in toughness. These findings indicate the potential applicability of deep cryogenic treatment for selected industrial environments where improved strength and corrosion resistance are required.