Low-cycle fatigue behavior of 316L-type stainless steel in chloride solutions

Low-cycle corrosion fatigue of stainless steel 316L was investigated at room temperature in a reversible strain-controlled bending mode in air, 3.5% NaCl with pH values of 0, 3 and 6 and in doubly deionized water (pH 3). The changes of cyclic ductility parameters with changing pH reflect the changes in mechanochemical interactions, which can result either in additional plasticization (chemomechanical effect) or in the embrittlement (microcracking) during cycling loading.