Experimental Investigation of Pitting Corrosion Behavior of 304L Stainless Steel on MnS Inclusions in Chloride Environments Applied to the Mediterranean Industry

Structures made of stainless steel experience a gradual deterioration in their fundamental properties when exposed to both mechanical stress and harsh environmental conditions. This study aims to analyze the impact of cold tensile deformation on the localized roughness corrosion of 304L stainless steel in a 3% NaCl solution, mimicking seawater conditions. Corrosion tests were performed on samples obtained from standardised tensile specimens of the Public Economic Enterprise for the Production of Bolts, Cutlery, and Faucets (BCR) in Boumerdes, Algeria, which had experienced deformation at strain levels of 2.18%, 3.63%, 10.90%, and 16.36%. The results, including corrosion susceptibility, pitting behavior, and repassivation potentials, were evaluated and compared based on the strain. Findings indicate that all measured potentials decrease as the strain increases, except for the roughness potential, which shows a significant decline. This suggests a notable reduction in the material's corrosion resistance with higher deformation levels.