Electrochemical response of natural and induced passivation of high strength duplex stainless steels in alkaline media

Abstract

The passivation of two high strength duplex stainless steels (HSSS) was investigated in alkaline solutions simulating the pore solution of concrete by the growth of natural and induced passive films. Induced passive films were generated both by cyclic voltammetry and by chronoamperometry. Natural passive films were spontaneously grown by the immersion of the steel in the alkaline electrolyte. These passive layers were characterised by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, corrosion current density (i corr) and corrosion potential (E corr) monitoring. The effect of significant parameters, such as the pH in the HSSS/alkaline solution interface, the composition of the duplex stainless steels and the ageing of the passive layer, on the electrochemical performance of both induced and spontaneously grown passive films has been analysed. The increase of alkalinity highly influences the electrochemical performance of the passive film by promoting the formation of a passive layer with a less resistant electrochemical response. The electrochemical behaviour of the passive layer is also affected by the alloying elements like Mo or Ni. Both natural and induced passive films show similar electrochemical trend with respect to significant parameters such as the pH and the composition of the steel. The ageing of the spontaneously grown passive layer promotes a higher resistive electrochemical response which might be related to the enrichment of the passive layer in non-conducting (or semi-conducting) oxides.