Influence of Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment on the oxidation behaviour of 316L stainless steel

Highlights: • SMAT has been investigated for influence on oxidation resistance. • SMATed 316L stainless steel has been studied between 650 and 750 °C. • SMAT increases the oxidation resistance of 316L by promoting chromia from 700 °C. - Abstract: The present article investigates the effect of Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) on the high temperature oxidation of AISI 316L, during isothermal oxidation between 650 and 750 °C in air. The observations show a beneficial effect of the SMAT process on the oxidation resistance of 316L steel, for high temperatures. Indeed, the oxidation kinetics of the treated samples is shown to be related to a preferential growth of chromia starting at 700 °C up to 750 °C. This leads us to conclude that the SMAT used on the 316L reverses the main oxide phase, inhibiting the growth of the hematite and promoting the chromia.