Electrochemical characteristics of zirconium oxide treated Type 304 stainless steels of different surface oxide structures in high temperature water

Electrochemical polarization analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of different oxide structures on corrosion resistance of ZrO2-treated Type 304 stainless steel specimens in high temperature water. All specimens were pre-oxidized in high temperature water containing either 300 ppb dissolved oxygen or 50 ppb dissolved hydrogen, followed by a hydrothermal deposition treatment with ZrO2 nanoparticles. Experimental results revealed that the corrosion potentials and corrosion current densities on the ZrO2-treated specimens were lower than those on the untreated ones, and the decreases in these parameters were more distinct on the ZrO2-treated specimens with oxides developed under dissolved oxygen condition.