Corrosion behaviour of nitrogen ion implanted AISI type 304L stainless steel in nitric acid medium

The effects of nitrogen ion implantation on corrosion behaviour of 304L stainless steel in 1 N HNO₃ medium were investigated using surface analytical and electrochemical techniques. Nitrogen ion was implanted at 70 keV in the dose range of 1 × 10¹⁵, 1 × 10¹⁶, 1 × 10¹⁷ and 2.5 × 10¹⁷ N⁺/cm², respectively. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction results for unimplanted and up to dose of 1 × 10¹⁶ N⁺/cm² showed co-existence of γ-Fe and α′-Fe and, at higher doses (1 × 10¹⁷ and 2.5 × 10¹⁷) preferential formation of chromium nitride was observed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation confirmed the formation of chromium nitride at higher doses. Electrochemical corrosion investigation revealed nobler open circuit potential, decrease in corrosion current densities, passive current densities and increase in polarization resistance with increase in dose rate. Surface morphology analysis after polarization study using atomic force microscope showed grain boundary dissolution for unimplanted specimens and resistance to surface dissolution with increase in dose rate for implanted specimens.