Physics

Internal medicine

Kinetics

Dissolution

Austenite

Physical chemistry

Strain rate

Chemistry

Metallurgy

Materials science

Corrosion

Strain (injury)

Austenitic stainless steel

Thermal diffusivity

Metal

Quantum mechanics

Medicine

Microstructure

Thermodynamics

Corrosion Science

The reactivation of a corrosion pit under the synergetic effect of strain and electro-chemical polarisation has been observed in a type 304L stainless steel using X-ray computed tomography. The pit reactivation process was associated with the formation of a new pit, directly adjacent to a pre-existing pit. Pit growth kinetics were estimated, revealing an increase of the diffusivity parameter (Deff ΔC) from 3.0 × 10−8 mol cm−1 s−1 to 4.5 × 10−8 mol cm−1 s−1 with the application of strain, indicating higher metal dissolution rates. Applied strain resulted in fractured lacy metal covers, and its effect on pit growth kinetics is discussed.

Strain-induced reactivation of corrosion pits in austenitic stainless steel