Evaluation of temperature effect on the corrosion process of 304 stainless steel in high temperature water with electrochemical noise

[Display omitted] •The noise resistance decreases with temperature increasing.•The sample changes from passivity to active dissolution as temperature increases.•The oxide film formed at 100°C exhibits single layer mainly consisting of Cr2O3.•At 250°C, the oxide film is double layer with an out precipitated hydroxide layer. The effect of temperature on corrosion process of 304 stainless steel (SS) in high temperature water was investigated by electrochemical noise (EN), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental results showed that the corrosion process could be divided into two stages (passivity and active dissolution) with the increasing temperature. At 100°C, the oxide film was a single layer mainly consisting of Cr2O3. However, at 250°C, it became a double layer with an inner layer of Cr–Fe spinel compound and an out precipitated layer. The related growth mechanisms of the oxide film were also discussed.