Application of nuclear methods in studying quality of stainless steel surfaces

The corrosion resistance of austenitic CrNiMo steels in passive state is dependent on the quality of the passivating layer and on the composition of the corrosion medium. The quality of the surface layers of steels was studied by gamma spectrometry following the activation of steel samples by neutrons in a nuclear reactor. In the measured solutions obtained by controlled dissolution of irradiated material the presence was quantitatively determined of radionuclides 51Cr, 54Mn, 58Co, 59Fe and 60Co. The method of radioactive tracers was experimentally used for investigating the kinetics of the decontamination and pickling processes, of point corrosion and the composition of the surface layers of steel following diverse types of heat and chemical treatment. (author). 7 figs., 1 tab., 13 refs