Influence of Ion Implantation on Corrosion and Stress Corrosion Cracking of 304L Stainless Steel

The effects of ion implantation on electrochemical and stress corrosion cracking behaviours of an austenitic stainless steel (AISI304L) in chloride media has been investigated. Nitrogen, molybdenum, neon and krypton ions have been implanted at room temperature with ion fluences ranging from 2.5 × 10 16 to 2.10 17 ions cm −2 . The implanted alloys have been characterised by transmission electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. The modifications of the different treated steels have been studied by electrochemical tests and classical tests used in stress corrosion cracking. Ion implantation of reactive species such nitrogen and molybdenum modifies the electrochemical and stress corrosion cracking behaviours of the alloy. On another hand, implantation of inert gas ions (krypton, neon) has given little changes.