Steel Surface Research Articles

Unraveling Water-Based Lubrication with Carbon Dots of Asphaltene Origin.

Despite the lower toxicity of water-based lubricants over nonrenewable petroleum-based analogues, they face challenges in achieving widespread adoption due to low stability and inadequate friction-reduction performance. To address this, a cost-effective nanoadditive is synthesized by expansive oxidation of asphaltenes to create biocompatible asphaltene-derived carbon dots [(ACDs); 5 nm]. These ACDs exhibit excellent water redispersibility, promoting long-term friction reduction and marking the first use of an asphaltene-based system for friction reduction in water or oil. Even at low loadings (0.2-4.0 wt %), ACDs significantly reduce friction on steel surfaces (>54%) with tribofilm stability surpassing pristine carbon dots, typical carbon-based graphene quantum dots, and inorganic nanomaterials (commercial 5 and 20 nm silica). The ACDs' attributes include high negative zeta potential, considerable water uptake, varied functional groups, biocompatibility, and a nanodisc shape conducive to stable tribofilm formation through effective particle stacking. The scalable synthesis, high yield, and impressive water redispersibility of ACDs position them favorably for commercial water-based lubrication.

Structural transformation behavior of oxide scale during coiling of 0.9 wt% Cr-containing high-strength steel

The phase transformation mechanism of oxide scale on the surfaces of chromium (Cr)-free carbon steel and 0.9 wt% Cr-containing steel at different coiling temperatures and cooling rates was studied using thermal simulation and electron backscattering diffraction experiments. The results showed that the eutectoid transformation of both the steel followed the “C” curve relationship. The Cr-containing steel had a larger eutectoid transformation area fraction than the Cr-free carbon steel. The nose tip temperature of the eutectoid transformation of the oxide scale on the surfaces of Cr-free carbon steel and 0.9 wt% Cr-containing steel were 420∼510 °C and 420–480 °C, respectively. For the 0.9 wt% Cr-containing steel, the proportion of Σ3 and Σ13b grain boundaries in cubic Fe3O4 increased, followed by a decrease, when the coiling temperature decreased from 610 to 410 °C. The Σ3 and Σ13b grain boundaries of the Fe3O4 low-dimensional coincident site lattice had the highest proportion for 510 °C coiling temperature. The low-dimensional coincident site lattice grain boundaries could be used to enhance crack resistance and improve the oxide scale on the steel plate surface.

Study on the corrosion inhibition properties of some quinoline derivatives as acidizing corrosion inhibitors for steel

In this paper, four quinoline quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized using quaternization reaction, which were benzyl quinolion (BQL), naphthylmethyl quinolinium chloride (NQL), benzyl-8-hydroxy quinolinium chloride (BHQ) and naphthylmethyl 8-hydroxy quinolinium chloride (NHQ). The corrosion inhibition properties of the quinoline derivatives as corrosion inhibitors on P110 steel in 20% HCl solution at 60°C at different concentrations were investigated by weight loss and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that as the concentration of corrosion inhibitor increases, the corrosion rate decreased and the inhibition efficiency improved. Among various corrosion inhibitors at the same concentration, their inhibition efficiencies can be ranked from lowest to highest as follows: QL(quinoline)<8-HQ(8-hydroxyquinoline)<BQL<BHQ<NQL<NHQ. The inhibitors synthesized from 1-chloromethyl naphthalene, NQL and NHQ, exhibited excellent inhibition property, in which the inhibition efficiencies reached to 99.8% and 99.9% even with concentration of 0.1%. It also demonstrated the adsorption of all inhibitors on the steel surface followed Langmuir adsorption isotherms, in which QL and 8-QH exhibited as physical adsorption, BQL and BHQ exhibited as mixed adsorption and NQL and NHQ exhibited as chemical adsorption. The inhibition mechanism of inhibitors was also investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), quantum chemical analyses and molecular dynamics simulations, which proved BHQ and NHQ can facilitate an increase in electron cloud density on the benzene ring, thereby enhancing corrosion inhibition performance.

Advancements in Steel Surface Defect Detection: An Enhanced YOLOv5 Algorithm with EfficientNet Integration

Steel surface defect detection is of utmost importance for ensuring product quality, cost reduction, enhanced safety, and heightened customer satisfaction. To address the limitations of traditional steel surface defect detection algorithms, which often yielded singular detection results and suffered from high miss detection rates, we proposed an enhanced Yolov5 steel surface defect detection algorithm. In this approach, this paper employed the EfficientNet network as a replacement for the Yolov5 backbone network. Subsequently, we trained and tested this modified network on a steel surface defect dataset to mitigate the challenges associated with high miss detection rates and underperforming evaluation metrics. Our experimental findings underscored the superiority of the improved algorithm, particularly when compared to Yolov5. This enhanced algorithm exhibited substantial improvements across several key performance metrics, including Precision, Recall, mAP@0.5, parameter count, and pt file size. Noteworthy achievements included a 6.39% increase in Precision for Yolov5-EfficientNetB4, a remarkable 7.75% improvement in Recall for Yolov5-EfficientNetB0, and a 5.57% boost in mAP@0.5 for Yolov5-EfficientNetB6. Additionally, the pt file size for Yolov5-EfficientNetB0 saw a substantial 39.65% reduction, although it was important to note that the inference time for the improved algorithm increased. Among the models, Yolov5-EfficientNetB6 struck the best balance in terms of performance.

Experimental study of post-fire bond behavior of concrete-filled stiffened steel tubes: A crucial aspect for composite structures

The slip between steel and concrete components and the bond strength between the two materials are important factors in load transfer under fire and cooling conditions. This study investigates the effect of the post-heating interaction of concrete and steel on the performance of composite members considering the bond between the two materials. Unidirectional push-out tests were conducted on circular concrete-filled stiffened steel tube (CFSST) columns after experiencing heating and subsequent cooling. The parameters under study were the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the tube (63.5, 31.75, and 21.17), the number of shear connectors (0, 4, and 6), and the target temperature (25, 250, 500, and 750 °C). The results showed that shear connectors effectively prevent concrete from sliding against the steel surface, facilitating load transfer from concrete to the steel tube. This increased interlocking between steel and concrete surfaces, leading to a substantial improvement in bond stiffness by 1–284% and bond strength by 2–590% for specimens with 4 and 6 shear studs. Moreover, the reduction in the diameter-to-thickness ratio enhanced interlocking between the steel tube and concrete core, leading to an increase in bond stiffness by 4–201% and bond strength by 10–216%. The application of thermal loading and the subsequent cooling induced macro-changes in the geometry of both the concrete core and steel tube, resulting in significant improvements in the bond properties of CFSST columns. In the specimens without shear connectors, slip between the concrete and steel occurred without any obstacle, while in the specimens with shear connectors, failure occurred in the form of the local crippling of the tube and the crushing of concrete around the shear stud together with the outward local buckling of the steel tube around the shear stud. Ultimately, a model to capture the bond stress-slip relationship of CFSST columns after thermal loading was proposed and then evaluated against the experimental data of the present study, which showed a good correlation between the experiment and prediction results.

Effect of electrochemical hydrogen-charging conditions on nanomechanical properties of X80 pipeline steel

In this work, nanoindentation tests, combined with hydrogen (H)-permeation testing, were used to study the effect of electrochemical H-charging conditions on H-permeating parameters and nanomechanical properties of X80 pipeline steel. The steady-state H-permeating current density, H-permeating flux, and the H subsurface concentration obtained in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution are apparently greater than the parameters obtained in near-neutral pH NS4 and 0.1 M NaOH solutions. The nanomechanical properties of X80 steel are heavily dependent on the electrochemical H-charging conditions (i.e., solution, time, and cathodic current density). The changes in nanohardness of the steel subjected to electrochemical H-charging depend on the charging solution used. In 0.5 M H2SO4 solution, as the electrochemical H-charging time increases, the nanohardness of the steel continues to decrease. However, in NS4 and 0.1 M NaOH solutions, the steel nanohardness increases with time. This phenomenon is attributed to the formation of corrosion product films on the steel surface. The softening and hardening transition phenomenon occurs on the steel subjected to electrochemical H-charging. Although measurement errors may cause variations in the nanohardness results, the evolution of nanohardness upon electrochemical H-charging exhibits a discernible tendency. H atoms could affect the elastic modulus of steel. When electrochemical H-charging promotes a uniform distribution of H atoms within the steel, achieved through either extended charging time or application of a cathodic current density, the elastic modulus of the steel tends to increase.

Understanding the Corrosion Behaviour of Steel Under Alternate Oil/Water Wetting with Different Oil Viscosities

Abstract The corrosion behaviour of steel under alternate wetting conditions with various oil viscosities was investigated by an “alternate wetting cell”, combined with electrochemistry measurements, wetting angle measurements, and molecular dynamics simulation. Under static conditions, corrosion was mitigated more efficiently with an increase of viscosity, because a large static friction force between high-viscosity oil and the steel surface prolongs the oil film lifetime and oil wetting time. Under dynamic conditions, the effect of oil viscosity on the corrosion and wetting behaviour of carbon steel was not dominated in comparison to that of the static conditions.

Normal tensile bond behaviour of CFRP-epoxy laminate to concrete and steel

The effectiveness of CFRP sheets as external concrete reinforcement is determined by the CFRP-concrete bond behaviour. In this study the normal tensile bond of CFRP-epoxy laminate was assessed through the behaviour of the CFRP-concrete, and CFRP-steel bond. A pull-off apparatus combined with a newly introduced method using a clip-on displacement transducer was employed. The specimen was a field-impregnated single CFRP sheet attached to concrete and steel. The contribution of the epoxy was tested individually. The load-displacement behaviour, the ultimate strength, failure mode and the individual component's contribution to the CFRP bond, were analysed. The study concluded that for a concrete compression strength as high as 50 MPa the failure was designated by concrete rupture. For the CFRP-steel specimens, the failure was distinguished as adhesive interface failure or CFRP failure, influenced by the degree of epoxy impregnation and steel surface preparation. The load-displacement behaviour of the CFRP-concrete, CFRP-steel and epoxy were characterized by non-linearity with no post peak. The presence of CFRP sheets enhanced the stiffness of the individual epoxy. The presence of CFRP-epoxy has a negative affected to the normal tensile stiffness of concrete, but postponed the load levels at which first concrete cracking occur, regardless the concrete compression strength.

Design of New Ecofriendly Schiff Base Inhibitors for Carbon Steel Corrosion Protection in Acidic Solutions: Electrochemical, Surface, and Theoretical Studies.

Corrosion poses a significant problem for several industrial sectors, inducing continuous research and development of corrosion inhibitors for use across a wide range of industrial applications. Here, we report the effectiveness of three newly developed Schiff bases derived from amino acids and 4-aminoacetophenone, namely, AIP, AMB, and AImP, as environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for Q235 steel in hydrochloric acid using electrochemical and surface analyses, in addition to theoretical techniques. The electrochemical findings of potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) demonstrated that the explored compounds serve as mixed-type inhibitors and can effectively suppress steel corrosion, with maximal protection efficiencies of 93.15, 96.01, and 77.03% in the presence of AIP, AMB, and AImP, respectively, at a concentration of 10 mM. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization results confirmed the growth of a durable protective barrier on the steel surface in the existence of the inhibitors, which is responsible for decreasing the metallic dissolution. Results were further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), which ascribed the development of inhibitor-adsorption films on the steel surface. The results of EDS and XPS analyses demonstrated the existence of the distinctive elements of the inhibitors on the metallic surface. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations showed the electronic structure of the examined inhibitors and their optimized adsorption configurations on the steel surface, which helped in explaining the anticorrosion mechanism. Finally, the theoretical and experimental findings exhibit a high degree of consistency.

Fabrication and characterization of C3N4 coating by electrochemical deposition on stainless steel

In this study, C3N4 coating was successfully fabricated on AISI 304 stainless steel by electrochemical deposition method using N-N dimethylformamide (DMF) and KCl as the electrolyte. The influences of DMF concentration on the microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vickers hardness tester, and pin-on-disk wear tester. The results indicate that a continue C3N4 coating layer can be formed on the steel surface. Compared to the untreated sample, the surface hardness and wear resistance of the stainless steel can be improved apparently after depositing of C3N4 coating. The hardness and wear resistance of the coatings increase firstly and then decrease with increase of DMF concentration. The coatings fabricated with 50 % DMF possess the highest hardness of 1329 HV0.05 and the lowest friction coefficient of 0.35 at 5 N. The main wear mechanisms are fatigue wear, abrasive wear, and oxidative wear. Deposition of C3N4 coating conforms to the polarization-adsorption-electrochemical reaction mechanism in the present investigation conditions.

Corrosion inhibition of carbon steel by eucalyptus leaves in acidic media: An overview

This paper concerns the overview of previous studies on the corrosion and inhibition of carbon steel that is allowed to degrade in a corrosive medium by the extract of the eucalyptus plant, with an emphasis on the extract's adsorption behaviour. Many researchers have largely employed eucalyptus plant bark, oil, and leaf extracts to prevent the corrosion of mild steel in acidic environments under various temperature settings. According to the results, when the bark extract of the eucalyptus plant was added to HCl (5%) at a concentration of 900 ppm, the inhibitor's maximum efficiency was 98.2 %. The leaf extract, on the other hand, had the maximum inhibitory efficacy of 93.09 % at 600 mg/L extract concentration in the H2SO4 (0.5 M) medium. The extracts' potency was shown to diminish with increasing temperature. The mechanism for eucalyptus extract's protection of carbon steel from corrosion in diverse corrosive situations was largely associated with the adsorption of the extract's inhibitive components on the steel's surface to reduce the interaction between the metal and the corrosive surroundings. The majority of the reported inhibitive behaviour of the eucalyptus extract was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model.

Effect of laser shock peening on wear resistance of M50 steel

The effects of laser shock peening (LSP) on the surface state and wear resistance of M50 steel are studied by microstructure observation, hardness, and residual stress detection. Results show that after LSP, the carbides on the surface of steel are broken and micro-pits appear. After removing the surface carbide damage by electrolytic polishing, the number of sub-surface carbides increases, and the maximum content is 26.1%. After LSP, the wear resistance of the steel is improved because LSP causes a large residual compressive stress on the surface. The wear performance of the sample after removing the surface damage becomes better, which is related to the elimination of many crack sources and the larger residual compressive stress.

A Review of Antimicrobial Polymer Coatings on Steel for the Food Processing Industry.

This article will focus on the issue of protection against the pathogenic biofilm development on steel surfaces within the food sectors, highlighting steel's prominence as a material choice in these areas. Pathogenic microorganism-based biofilms present significant health hazards in the food industry. Current scientific research offers a variety of solutions to the problem of protecting metal surfaces in contact with food from the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. One promising strategy to prevent bacterial growth involves applying a polymeric layer to metal surfaces, which can function as either an antiadhesive barrier or a bactericidal agent. Thus, the review aims to thoroughly examine the application of antibacterial polymer coatings on steel, a key material in contact with food, summarizing research advancements in this field. The investigation into polymer antibacterial coatings is organized into three primary categories: antimicrobial agent-releasing coatings, contact-based antimicrobial coatings, and antifouling coatings. Antibacterial properties of the studied types of coatings are determined not only by their composition, but also by the methods for applying them to metal and coating surfaces. A review of the current literature indicates that coatings based on polymers substantially enhance the antibacterial properties of metallic surfaces. Furthermore, these coatings contribute additional benefits including improved corrosion resistance, enhanced aesthetic appeal, and the provision of unique design elements.

THE EFFECT OF THE DC-SPUTTERING PROCESS ON CHANGES IN THE HARDNESS VALUE AND ELEMENTS COMPOSITION OF BIOCOMPATIBLE STAINLESS STEEL 316L MATERIAL

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) thin films have intriguing optical, photocatalytic, and electrical properties and have been investigated for various applications, including solar cells, biomaterials, corrosion-resistant materials, and gas sensor. In this study, TiO2 thin films were deposited on the surface of 316L Stainless Steel to improve its mechanical properties as an implant material. The deposition method used was DC sputtering with variations in deposition times of 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes. Vickers hardness test and SEM-EDX characterization were carried out to determine the hardness value, elemental composition, and thickness of the TiO2 thin film formed. Based on these tests, it was discovered that the optimal hardness value of316L stainless Steel material was attained at a deposition period of 90 minutes with a hardness value of 170.10 VHN, and the average thickness of the layer formed was ± 119.02 μm.

Dynamics of Tribofilm Formation in Boundary Lubrication Investigated Using In Situ Measurements of the Friction Force and Contact Voltage.

The complex dynamics of tribofilm formation on boundary-lubricated steel surfaces were investigated in real time by combining in situ measurements of the temporal variation of the coefficient of friction and contact voltage. Sliding experiments were performed with various blends consisting of base oil, zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) additive, and two different dispersants at an elevated oil temperature for a wide range of normal load and fixed sliding speed. The evolution of the transient and steady-state coefficient of friction, contact voltage, and critical sliding distance (time) for stable tribofilm formation were used to evaluate the tribological performance of the tribofilms. The blend composition affected the load dependence of the critical sliding distance for stable tribofilm formation. Tribofilm friction was influenced by competing effects between the additive and the dispersants. Among various formulations examined, the tribofilm with the best friction characteristics was found to be the blend consisting of base oil, a small amount of ZDDP, and a bis-succinimide dispersant treated with ethylene carbonate. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the present experimental approach to track the formation and removal of protective tribofilms under boundary lubrication conditions in real time.

High temperature lubrication performance of chlorophenyl silicone oil

Most studies of liquid lubricants were carried out at temperatures below 200 °C. However, the service temperature of lubricants for aerospace and aeroengine has reached above 300 °C. In order to investigate the friction mechanism and provide data for high temperature lubrication, the friction and wear properties of chlorophenyl silicone oil (CPSO)-lubricated M50 steel and Si3N4 friction pairs were investigated herein. Ball-on-disk experimental results show that the lubrication performance of CPSO varies significantly with temperature. Below 150 °C, coefficient of friction (COF) remains at 0.13–0.15 after the short running-in stage (600 s), while the COF in the running-in stage is 0.2–0.3. At 200 °C and above, the running-in time is much longer (1,200 s), and the initial instantaneous maximum COF can reach 0.5. Under this condition, the COF gradually decreases and finally stabilizes at around 0.16–0.17 afterwards. This phenomenon is mainly due to the different thickness of boundary adsorption film. More importantly, the wear rate of M50 steel increases significantly with the temperature, while the wear rate barely changes at temperatures above 200 °C. The anti-wear mechanism is explained as tribochemical reactions are more likely to occur between CPSO and steel surface with the increased temperature, generating the FeCl2 protective film on the metal surface. Accordingly, FeCl2 tribochemical film improves the lubrication and anti-wear capacity of the system. At high temperatures (200–350 °C), FeCl2 film becomes thicker, and the contact region pressure becomes lower due to the larger wear scar size, so the wear rate growth of M50 steel is much smaller compared with that of low temperatures (22–150 °C). The main findings in this study demonstrate that CPSO lubricant has good anti-wear and lubrication capacity, which is capable of working under temperatures up to 350 °C.

Electrochemical, gravimetric, quantum chemical and computational investigations on an effective synthetic chlorinated cyclic imide derivative as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in sulfuric acid solution

Although many different human activities such as the oil and gas sector, mineral production, utilities, transportation, etc. depend on the utilization of steel and its alloys, they are highly susceptible to corrosion, especially in acidic media. Hence, processing entails substantial material expenditures due to metal losses. In this regard, the inhibitory characteristics of the synthetic heterocyclic derivative (3aR,7S,7aS)-4,5,6,7,8,8-hexachloro-1,3-dioxo-1,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-2H-4,7-methanoisoindol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (MBSI) was studied against corrosion of C-steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 at 25-55 °C. The structure of the synthesized molecule was confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS. Weight-loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical frequency modulation measurements as well as theoretical analyses were employed in this investigation. The results showed that the investigated MBSI compound functions as an efficient inhibitor with a physical adsorption nature on the surface of carbon steel. MBSI concentration causes the inhibition efficiency to rise, reaching a maximum of 94% for the steel alloy corrosion at 37 × 10−6 M and 25°C. The synthesized compound was suggested to act as a mixed-type inhibitor. SEM surface analysis showed the construction of a protective layer at the carbon steel surface. DFT-based quantum chemical indices provided more insight into the inhibitory mechanism. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were also applied to predict the conformational adsorption change of the inhibitor on the iron surface. In addition, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were calculated. The experimental results are largely consistent with the theoretical results.

Key role of gradient-nanostructure and extremely thin amorphous passive film on tribocorrosion behavior of a novel Cr+N alloyed high-Mn austenitic steel

High manganese steel is influenced by the combined effects of corrosion and wear during service under specific conditions, resulting in components with shortened service life. Under harsh service environments, newly developed Cr+N alloyed austenitic high manganese steel (Mn18Cr7C0.6N0.2 steel) as a new type of railway steel has shown promising results. Herein, the tribocorrosion behaviors of Mn18Cr7C0.6N0.2 and Mn13C1.1 steels in artificial acid rain were studied using electrochemical methods, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopemicroscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The results showed the formation of passive film and gradient-nanostructure on surfaces of both test steels during tribocorrosion. A dense and tightly adhering amorphous passive film was formed on Mn18Cr7C0.6N0.2 steel surface with a superior blocking effect toward invasive ions. The high strain resistance and plasticity of the Mn18Cr7C0.6N0.2 steel resulted in an intact gradient-nanostructure, suitable for obtaining high surface hardness and maintaining the toughness of the matrix, contribute to providing high wear resistance. The oxide film on the Mn13C1.1 steel surface comprised crystal α-FeOOH. Vortex cracks formed in its gradient structure due to strain localization. Meanwhile, the relatively poor corrosion protection ability and vortex cracks of its gradient-nanostructure prevented it from maintaining interface integrity of the gradient nanostructure, resulting in inferior tribocorrosion resistance. In artificial acid rain, the new type of Cr+N alloyed Mn18Cr7C0.6N0.2 steel exhibited higher tribocorrosion resistance than traditional high manganese steel, promising for use as an excellent wear-resistant material under corrosive environments.

The Formation of Phytic Acid–Silane Films on Cold-Rolled Steel and Corrosion Resistance

In this work, phytic acid (PA) and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) underwent a condensation process to produce a phytic acid–silane (abbreviated PAS) passivation solution. Additionally, it was applied to the surface of cold-rolled steel to create a composite phytic acid–silane film. The functional groups of the passivation solution were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The composite film was evaluated using an electrochemical workstation, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and pull-off test. These techniques allowed for the characterization of the film’s micromorphology, oxidation, chemical composition and adhesion strength. The results show that the PAS composite film provides higher protection efficiency compared to cold-rolled steel substrates, low phosphorus passivation films, single phytate passivation films and commercial phosphate films. This composite film also has a higher adhesion strength, which is beneficial for subsequent coating, and a possible corrosion resistance mechanism was proposed as well. The PAS layer successfully prevents the penetration of corrosive media into the cold-rolled steel surface utilizing P–O–Fe bonds, thus improving the corrosion barrier effect of the substrate.

The impact of different acidic conditions and food substrates on Listeria monocytogenes biofilms development and removal using nanoencapsulated carvacrol

Listeria monocytogenes biofilms present a significant challenge in the food industry. This study explores the impact of different acidic conditions of culture media and food matrices on the development and removal of biofilms developed on stainless steel surfaces by wild-type (WT) L. monocytogenes strains as well as in two mutant derivatives, ΔsigB and ΔagrA, that have defects in the general stress response and quorum sensing, respectively. Additionally, the study investigates the efficacy of nanoencapsulated carvacrol as an antimicrobial against L. monocytogenes biofilms developed in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) culture media acidified to different pH conditions (3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5), and in food substrates (apple juice, strained yogurt, vegetable soup, semi-skimmed milk) having the same pH levels. No biofilm formation was observed for all L. monocytogenes strains at pH levels of 3.5 and 4.5 in both culture media and food substrates. However, at pH 5.5 and 6.5, increased biofilm levels were observed in both the culture media and food substrates, with the WT strain showing significantly higher biofilm formation (3.04–6.05 log CFU cm−2) than the mutant strains (2.30–5.48 log CFU cm−2). For both applications, the nanoencapsulated carvacrol demonstrated more potent antimicrobial activity against biofilms developed at pH 5.5 with 2.23 to 3.61 log reductions, compared to 1.58–2.95 log reductions at pH 6.5, with mutants being more vulnerable in acidic environments. In food substrates, nanoencapsulated carvacrol induced lower log reductions (1.58–2.90) than the ones in TSB (2.02–3.61). These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of different acidic conditions on the development of L. monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel surfaces and the potential application of nanoencapsulated carvacrol as a biofilm control agent in food processing environments.