Effects of hydrogen peroxide on 304 stainless steel in high temperature water

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidizer produced by water radiolysis, is considered one of the main contributors to corrosion of the stainless steel (SS) components in the cooling system of nuclear reactors. The detailed understanding of this chemical system is however still missing. The present research aimed to study the effects of H2O2 on 304 SS. The surface morphology and the chemical composition of the SS specimens after experiment were examined using Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The change in atomic % of Fe, Cr, Ni, and O as a function of temperature will be reported. The corrosion type and possible corrosion products will be proposed and discussed.