Effect of Sulfide and Chloride Ions on Pitting Corrosion of Type 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel in Groundwater Conditions Using Response Surface Methodology

This study investigates the corrosion resistance of Type 316 stainless steel as a candidate material for radioactive waste disposal canisters. The viability of stainless steel is examined under groundwater conditions with variations in pH, bisulfide ions (HS⁻), and chloride ions (Cl⁻) concentrations. Utilizing response surface methodology, correlations between corrosion factors and two crucial response variables, passive film breakdown potential and protection potential, are established. Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests and advanced analytical techniques provide detailed insights into the material’s behavior. This research goes beyond, deriving an equation through response surface methodology that elucidates the relationship between the factors and breakdown potential. HS⁻ weakens the passive film and reduces the pitting corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. However, this study highlights the inhibitory effect of HS⁻ on pitting corrosion when Cl⁻ concentrations are below 0.001 M and at equivalent concentrations of HS⁻. Under these conditions, immediate re-passivation occurs from the destroyed passive film to metal sulfides such as FeS₂, MoS₂, and MoS₃. As a result, no hysteresis loop occurs in the cyclic polarization curve in these conditions. This research contributes to the understanding of Type 316 stainless-steel corrosion behavior, offering implications for the disposal of radioactive waste in geological repositories.