Corrosion mechanism of SS316L exposed to NaCl/Na2CO3 molten salt in air and argon environments

Molten salts are potential energy storage media for solar thermal power, but can be highly corrosive. To investigate molten salt corrosion mechanisms, the oxidation state and structure of SS316L exposed to in air argon environments was investigated using SEM XANES techniques. It determined that iron formed mixed Fe2+ Fe3+ states both environments, with lower deeper into corrosion. Cr2+ primary present scale chromium. Reduced basicity oxygen concentration favoured state, whilst Cr3+ ions were dissolved by salt.