Effects of Aluminum Addition on the Corrosion of 316 Stainless Steel in the Simulated Primary Circuit Water of PWR

Abstract

The effect of Al addition on the corrosion of 316 SS exposed to simulated primary circuit of PWR has been investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, Mott-Schottky plots and corrosion kinetics. After Al addition, the weight loss of 316 SS was reduced, the semiconductor properties of the oxide film formed on the surface on 316 SS were optimized. The kinetic study indicates that corrosion process is well fitted by the pseudo-first order model. The presence of Al increases the corrosion activation energy resulting in the slowdown of the corrosion of 316 SS. Al additions may impedes the transport of the metal ion in the micropore of the 316 SS. The research may give a good solution for material corrosion in the primary circuit water of PWR.