Staged Local Dissolution of Stainless Steel in Chloride Solutions

Abstract

The paper defines galvanostatic polarization parameters (current density and test duration) to simulate self-dissolution conditions; the results are confirmed by potentiostatic tests. It is shown that under the conditions of self-dissolution simulation, increasing the solution concentration reduces the nucleation rate, while prolonging the pitting development time. Spectral analysis of chronopotentiograpms reveals low-frequency potential fluctuations that characterize the nucleation and passivation of pits at the onset of pitting corrosion. The paper describes the basic regularities observed in the alteration of surface electrochemistry by impedance spectroscopy; such alteration corresponds to the transition from the passive area to the pitting area. The researchers propose optimal electric equivalent circuits to reflect the surface conditions in early nucleation of pits. The paper also proposes an additional pitting resistance criterion, that is, cumulative electric-charge density.