Characterization of deposits build-up on austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L exposed in high purity water system

For the characterization of deposit layers on AISI 316L surfaces in high purity water systems, operating up to 80 °C Mössbauer spectroscopy (ME), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used. Austenitic steel particles were identified on the surfaces of systems not properly cleaned before start-up. Long exposition of austenitic surfaces to high purity water promotes the build-up, composed by trivalent iron and chromium oxidehydroxides and oxide. The oxidehydroxide phase is located mainly at the solid-water interface, whereas oxide phase is in direct contact with metal. Spheroid-like morphology of particles in these layers and the lack of metal attack suggest that coagulation and crystallization processes are the way for oxide production from existing dissolved species.