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Received: December 11, 2021; Revised: December 15, 2021; Accepted: December 15, 2021
Abstract: A wet type scrubber for merchant vessel uses super austenitic stainless steels with pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) of 40 or higher for operation in a harsh corrosive environment. However, it is expensive due to a high nickel content. Thus, electrochemical behavior and cavitation erosion characteristics of UNS S32750 as an alternative material were investigated. Microstructure analysis revealed fractions of ferritic and austenitic phases of 48% and 52%, respectively, confirming the existence of ferritic matrix and austenitic island. Potentiodynamic polarization test revealed damage at the interface of the two phases because of galvanic corrosion due to different chemical compositions of ferritic and austenitic phases. After a cavitation test, a compressive residual stress was formed on the material surface due to impact pressure of cavity. Surface hardness was improved by water cavitation peening effect. Hardness value was the highest at 30 μm amplitude. Scanning electron microscopy revealed wave patterns due to plastic deformation caused by impact pressure of the cavity. The depth of surface damage increased with amplitude. Cavitation test revealed larger damage caused by erosion in the ferritic phase due to brittle fracture derived from different strain rate sensitivity index of FCC and BCC structures.