Effect of Surface Machining on the Corrosion Resistance of Oxide Film of Austenite Stainless Steel

Surface milling of 304L and 316L austenitic stainless steels with different processing parameters was carried out, and then immersion tests were conducted in simulated primary loop environmental water of pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants. The pitting corrosion and stress corrosion properties of the formed surface oxide film were evaluated. The results showed that milling could significantly reduce the corrosion resistance of the oxide films on the surface of two stainless steels, although the corrosion resistance of the oxide films increased with the prolongation of immersion test. Stress corrosion cracking of machined specimens could not be alleviated by the formation of oxide film on the surface with prolongation of immersion time, and even stress corrosion cracking of some oxide film was aggravated due to embrittlement.