Assessment of cavitation-erosion resistance of 316LN stainless steel in mercury as a function of surface treatment

A vibratory horn apparatus was used to assess the cavitation-erosion resistance in mercury of annealed type 316LN stainless steel as a function of surface treatment. The modifications examined included cold-working, welding, laser-alloying of the surface, and two low-temperature carburization treatments. Based on general wastage (measured by weight loss) and depth of surface relief/pitting, the best cavitation-erosion resistance in Hg was achieved with one of the carburization processes for which the substrate material was oriented such that inclusion stringers were parallel to the test surface. The most successful carburization process was found to be similarly effective for both wrought and welded 316LN.