Erosion–corrosion of stainless steel under impingement by a fluid jet

The localised corrosion of 304L stainless steel is described by electrochemical measurements made under impact of a fluid jet of sodium chloride solution, in the absence of the entrained solid particles. Impingement by the fluid jet causes the open-circuit potential of 304L stainless steel in 0.6 M NaCl solution to increase with time until it attains the pitting potential. This is due primarily to acceleration of the cathodic reaction because the mass transfer rate of oxygen is increased under impingement by the fluid jet. Once the pitting potential has been achieved, the open-circuit potential decreases because of growth of stable pits. Fluid flow can itself thereby initiate stable pitting corrosion in open circuit.