Regarding the sensitivity of austenitic stainless steels to halogen elements
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Dear experts, many standards require that the chloride ion concentration in the water used for pressure testing of austenitic stainless steel not exceed 25 ppm, as exceeding this level can lead to pitting. Then, since F, Cl, Br, and I are all halogen elements, do they all have a tendency to cause pitting in stainless steel? Moreover, fluorine has a stronger electron-donating ability; does this mean that it causes more severe pitting in stainless steel? Yet HF acid can still be used as a pickling agent for lubrication pipelines made of stainless steel (austenitic type). Why is that?
Are stress corrosion and pitting the same type of corrosion?