Characterization of oxide layer and micro-crack initiation in alloy 316L stainless steel after 20,000h exposure to supercritical water at 500°C

Corrosion behavior of alloy 316L stainless steel capsule was studied by exposure to the supercritical water (SCW) at 500°C and 25MPa for 20,000h. The microstructural observations have been conducted on the cross section of the exposed surfaces to the SCW to perceive the internal oxidation of the grains and/or grain boundaries. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations as well as elemental analyses such as energy dispersive …