Realtime imaging of the growth of microscopic corrosion pits can be correlated to the fabrication process of stainless steel.

Chloride-induced corrosion of stainless steel storage containers for radioactive waste stored in coastal locations over many decades is difficult to predict. The Radioactive Waste Management Directorate at the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority supported studies of pitting corrosion of stainless steel, with the aim of developing models of the corrosion damage that may occur on waste containers over long times.

At the Swiss Light Source, a capillary microcell filled with NaCl solution was mounted on top of a stainless steel specimen. The growth of microscopic corrosion pits was imaged in situ and in real-time under electrochemical control. Corrosion pits were found to follow the microstructure and rolling direction of the stainless steel.

References

In-situ synchrotron x-ray micro-tomography study of pitting corrosion in stainless steel
Ghaharia SM, Davenport AJ, Rayment T, Suter T, Tinnes JP, Padovani C, Hammons JA, Stampanoni M, Marone F, Mokso R
Corrosion Science. 2011;53:2684
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2011.05.040