Improved pitting corrosion resistance of AISI 316L stainless steel treated by high current pulsed electron beam

This paper investigates the pitting corrosion behaviors in simulated body fluid of AISI 316L stainless steel treated by high current pulsed electron beam. The treatment induces crater eruptions that preferentially occur at MnS inclusions and produces a surface purification effect. The mixing in the melting process and the subsequent solute trapping effect during fast solidification process result in the homogenization of elements in the melted layer. Both crater eruption and composition homogenization contribute to the selective surface purification effect. As a result, the pitting corrosion resistance of the steel is significantly improved.