Stainless steel and corrosion behavior

摘要

The use of stainless steels is commonplace in water resource recovery facilities and in pump stations. The most commonly used stainless steels are Types 304/304L and 316/316L They have superior corrosion resistance when compared to carbon steels due to their ability to form an extremely thin, invisible oxide film. This passive oxide film prevents corrosion except where certain exposure conditions cause it to break down or where it cannot be restored naturally. The most notable examples of these conditions include exposure to certain concentrations of chloride ions and microbiologically influenced corrosion. In addition, the presence of crevices or rough edges exacerbates corrosion under these conditions.