Analysis of bi-layer oxide on austenitic stainless steel, 316L, exposed to Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)

Corrosion of the austenitic stainless steel alloy 316L by Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) was studied using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) with Sputter-Depth Profiling (SDP), and compared to data taken by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-rays (EDXs). Exposed and unexposed samples were compared. Annealed 316L samples, exposed to LBE for durations of 1000, 2000 and 3000 h, developed bi-layer oxides up to 30 μm thick. Analysis of the charge-states of the 2p3/2 peaks of iron, chromium, and nickel in the oxide layers reveal an inner layer consisting of iron and chromium oxides (likely spinel-structured) and an outer layer consisting of iron oxides (Fe3O4). Cold-rolled 316L samples, exposed for the same durations, form a chromium-rich, thin (⩽1 μm) oxide with some oxidized iron in the outermost ∼200 nm of the oxide layer. This is the first experiment to investigate what components of the 316L are oxidized by LBE exposure. It is shown here that nickel is metallic in the inner layer.