Microscopic Analysis of Intergranular Corrosion of 316L Stainless Steel

316L stainless steel is a common material in nuclear power equipments. Intergranular corrosion is a hidden and destructive mode of material failure. It is important to study the intergranular corrosion behavior of the 316L to ensure the safety of nuclear power equipments. A series of research has been conducted on properties of 316L including the microstructure of the base metal and the weldment and that under the condition of intergranular corrosion. Through the experiments, an intuitive understanding of the microstructure of the base metal and the weldment has been established. Moreover, the intergranular corrosion resistance can be reflected by the condition of grain separation on metallograph. In resistance of intergranular corrosion, by comparison, the heat affected zone was the worst and the weld joint performed quite well. Thus, the heat effect in welding process must be controlled to improve the intergranular corrosion resistance of the equipment.