Potable-water storage tanks store treated drinking water and help maintain water quality,
but localized corrosion has been reported for stainless-steel tanks in service. This damage is
presumed to be related to local enrichment of chloride (Cl⁻) and...
Potable-water storage tanks store treated drinking water and help maintain water quality,
but localized corrosion has been reported for stainless-steel tanks in service. This damage is
presumed to be related to local enrichment of chloride (Cl⁻) and residual chlorine species
(OCl⁻) caused by evaporation–condensation inside the tank. In this study, the corrosion
behavior of STS 304 and STS 329LD (base and weld metals) was evaluated in simulated
tank solutions containing 50–400 ppm Cl⁻ and 2–8 ppm OCl⁻ at 20–50 °C. Cyclic
polarization, OCP monitoring, and EIS were performed, and the corrosion-resistance
degradation of STS 329LD weld metal was further examined using microstructural analysis,
XRD, and EBSD. Within the tested ranges, Cl⁻ and OCl⁻ concentrations had a limited
effect on pitting and protection potentials, whereas increasing temperature decreased the
pitting potential. OCP increased immediately after OCl⁻ addition and reached the potential
range between the protection and pitting potentials, suggesting that the oxidizing nature of
OCl⁻ promotes corrosion by elevating the potential above the protection potential. For STS
329LD, weld-induced phase imbalance and third-phase formation were considered key
factors in corrosion resistance degradation.