Surface nanocrystallisation (SNC) was prepared on the top-surface layer of 304 stainless steel by ultrasonic surface rolling treatment (USRT). Meanwhile, martensite transformation also occurred during grain refinement, and the surface microhardness increased more than tripled after USRT. The corrosion resistance of nanocrystallines (NC) 304 stainless steel was notably better than that of untreated samples in simulated pressurised water reactor (PWR) secondary water by potentiodynamic polarisation curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky curves. Meanwhile, the corrosion mechanism was discussed before and after USRT by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The main reason is due to the formation of denser Cr(OH)3 protective film and the reduction of the porous structure Fe2O3 content in the NC 304 stainless steel.
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