Effect of Strain and Chloride Concentration on Pitting Susceptibility for Type 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel*

The effects of strain and chloride concentration on pitting susceptibility for type 304 stainless steel were studied in situ using the electrochemical technology under constant strain. The impact factor fɛ was brought forward to value the effect of strain on pitting. The pitting behaviors of type 304 stainless steel in various chloride concentrations under the strain levels 0%, 10%, and 30% were investigated. Potentiostatic polarization technology was used to study how the chloride concentration affected corrosion current density. The results indicated that fɛ increased substantially and pitting potential varied remarkably when chloride concentration was over 90 mg·L−1. Under the three levels of strain mentioned above, when chloride concentration was below 463 mg·L−1,121 mg·L−1, and 98 mg·L−1, respectively, the pitting potential shifted towards positivity and, the passive film became more stable. When the strain was below 10%, the pitting susceptibility of type 304 stainless steel varied greatly as strain increased, whereas the susceptibility only changed a little when the strain was over 10%.