Multilayered surface oxides within crevices of type 316L stainless steels in high-temperature pure water

Soma, Yasutaka   ; Kato, Chiaki   ; Yamamoto, Masahiro 

Surface oxide layers were formed within crevices of type 316L stainless steels in pure water at 288C and 8 MPa. Cross-sectional structures of the surface oxides were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. In the condition of dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 ppm, the properties of the surface oxide layer changed with position and dual or triplex layered oxides were formed at a certain distance from the crevice mouth. The multilayered oxides were composed of Fe-based oxide in the core and a high-Cr content in the outer layer, which had not been observed on a boldly exposed surface. On the contrary, in deaerated condition, the surface oxide layers were composed of a FeO-based outer and a Cr-enriched inner oxide layer, regardless of the crevice position. Electrochemical condition within the crevice was identified by using E-pH diagram. It was suggested that, at 400m distance from the crevice mouth, the potential lowered at the early stage of exposure and then, shifted to noble direction with decrement of pH. Consequently, even within a narrow crevice with a gap size of a few m, the uniqueness of the crevice electrochemistry, characterized by the position and time dependence of both the potential and the pH, has been exhibited.