Influence of Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment on the oxidation behaviour of 316L stainless steel

•SMAT has been investigated for influence on oxidation resistance.•SMATed 316L stainless steel has been studied between 650 and 750 °C.•SMAT increases the oxidation resistance of 316L by promoting chromia from 700 °C. The present article investigates the effect of Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) on the high temperature oxidation of AISI 316L, during isothermal oxidation between 650 and 750 °C in air. The observations show a beneficial effect of the SMAT process on the oxidation resistance of 316L steel, for high temperatures. Indeed, the oxidation kinetics of the treated samples is shown to be related to a preferential growth of chromia starting at 700 °C up to 750 °C. This leads us to conclude that the SMAT used on the 316L reverses the main oxide phase, inhibiting the growth of the hematite and promoting the chromia.