Enhancing pitting resistance of stainless steel by surface cleaning through potentiostatic pulse technique

Abstract

Enhancing pitting resistance is essential for stainless steel. This study compares the pitting resistance of two austenitic stainless steels, 316L and 316H, before and after Potentiostatic Pulse Technique (PPT). It is indicated PPT can improve pitting resistance in both steels, but to different extents. The oxide inclusions in 316L have higher Ca contents, resulting in more potential pitting initiation sites and poorer original pitting resistance. However, after surface cleaning by PPT, the pitting resistance of 316L improves more significantly. This research elucidates the impact of PPT on pitting resistance, aiding in the application of stainless steel.