在过去三十年中，铬镍不锈钢在处理腐蚀性化学品方面变得非常宝贵。在众多媒体中，这些材料提供了完全令人满意的服务。在某些热处理条件下，当暴露在特定介质中时，它们可能会表现出一种称为晶间腐蚀的腐蚀，这会严重影响它们的用途。奥氏体不锈钢，如AISI 302、304、316和317型，由于暴露在800-1500°F的温度范围内，容易受到此类侵蚀。这种“敏化”通常归因于晶界处碳化铬的沉淀，从而降低晶界附近的有效铬含量和耐腐蚀性。 这一现象早就被认识到，并导致了超低碳类型和铌或钛稳定不锈钢的发展，这些不锈钢具有显著提高的抗碳化物沉淀能力。 下列任何操作都可能导致敏化: 1.焊接，其中受影响区域与熔敷层相邻，2。减压疗法。在敏化范围内制造或使用期间的暴露。

During the past three decades the chromium-nickel stainless steels have become invaluable for handling corrosive chemicals. In numerous media, these materials provide completely satisfactory service. In certain conditions of heat treatment, when exposed to specific media, they may exhibit a type of attack known as intergranular corrosion, which can seriously affect their usefulness. Austenitic stainless steels, such as AISI Types 302, 304, 316, and 317, can become susceptible to such attack as a result of exposure in the temperature range 800-1500°F. This "sensitization" is generally attributed to the precipitation of chromium carbides at the grain boundaries, which lowers the effective chromium content and corrosion resistance near the grain boundaries. This phenomenon has long been recognized and has led to the development of extra low carbon types and columbium or titanium stabilized stainless steels which possess greatly improved resistance to carbide precipitation. Sensitization may come about as a result of any of the following operations: 1. welding, wherein the affected zone is adjacent to the weld deposit,2. stress relieving treatments, or3. exposure during fabrication or in service within the sensitizing range.