Mutual examination of corrosion and wear resistance of sandblasting and etching surface treatments applied to AISI 316L stainless steel

Abstract

Since AISI 316L stainless steel has excellent mechanical qualities and resistance to corrosion, it is widely used in many different industries. Surface treatments like etching and sandblasting are frequently used to improve the surface properties for certain uses. It is still difficult to comprehend how these treatments affect the material’s resistance to corrosion and wear, though. In this work, we methodically examine how sandblasting and etching affect AISI 316L stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion and wear. We assess the morphological, chemical, and performance changes brought about by these treatments using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness testing, and tribological analysis. Our findings show that the surface morphology and chemistry are dramatically changed by both treatments, which has an impact on the corrosion and wear behavior of the material. The best wear resistance was obtained from the sandblasted sample (0.64 x10−3 mm3/Nm) and the best corrosion resistance was obtained from the untreated sample. The optimization of surface treatment techniques for stainless steel alloys in many industrial applications is facilitated by these findings.