Evidence for enhancement of corrosion resistance of carbon steel after exposure to high-dose gamma radiation

Abstract

This paper reports the effect of gamma radiation on carbon-steel corrosion in a synthetic sodium-chloride electrolyte [0.6 M] which is a suitable candidate for thick-wall radioactive waste containers. The corrosion properties were studied by linear polarization (LP), Tafel plots, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Carbon steel exposed to a high irradiation dose was found to have enhanced corrosion resistance, which is consistent with the formation of Fe2O3 (hematite) and microstructural development observed by X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the mechanism of irradiation influence is proposed. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed spherical grains, the sizes and numbers of which varied with the irradiation dose.