In this study, NSSC 2120 economical duplex stainless steel was prepared and the effects of aging temperatures on its intermetallic phase morphology, tensile strength, elongation, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial properties were investigated. The results revealed that after aging the sample at 650 °C, it exhibits better pitting corrosion resistance and higher tensile strength. Upon increasing the aging temperature up to 750 °C, the pitting corrosion resistance and tensile strength of the samples were decreased due to the precipitation of the ε-Cu phase in the matrix. Moreover, with the further increase in the aging temperature to 850 °C, oxides containing Mn and Cr (CrMn1.5O4) and sulfides (MnS) precipitated from the samples, further decreasing their pitting corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Upon aging the samples at 950 °C, no second phase was observed and the corrosion resistance was less than that of the sample after aging at 650 °C, but the tensile strength was greater than that of the sample after aging at 650 °C. Antibacterial test results revealed that the sample after aging at 750 °C exhibited a good antibacterial effect due to the precipitation of the rod-shaped ε-Cu phase.
Keywords: aging treatment; antibacterial properties; corrosion resistance; precipitated phases; tensile strength.