Ultrasonically enhanced corrosion of 304L stainless steel II: the effect of frequency, acoustic power and horn to specimen distance.

The effects of frequency in the range 20 to 60 kHz, acoustic power and horn to specimen distance on the corrosion of 304L stainless steel in an ultrasonic field were investigated. At 40 and 60 kHz, the corrosion rate increased to a maximum and thereafter decreased with increasing transmitted power. At 20 kHz, the corrosion rate increased continuously with increasing power over the range investigated. At 18 W transmitted power, the corrosion rate increased continuously with frequency. However, at 40 W transmitted power a pronounced maximum in the corrosion rate occurred at 40 kHz. A significant effect of horn to specimen distance was found, the corrosion rate increasing with decreasing distance. High corrosion rates in excess of 800 mm yr(-1) were observed when the specimen was situated 0.1 mm from the radiating face of the ultrasonic probe. In addition, the area affected by sonication was found to increase with increasing distance.