Pitting on the 20Kh13 steel in chloride solutions

The dependences of the pitting potential, determined by potentiodynamic method, on the NaCl solution concentration, pH, and temperature are found. The repassivation potential and the induction time for the pitting under different conditions are determined. The corrosion potential and kinetic parameters of the steel dissolution in pits are measured. The corrosion current is evaluated, leading to the determination of the steel dissolution rate in pits at the corrosion potential.     

Development of pitting corrosion of stainless steel 403 in sodium chloride solutions

Pitting corrosion of stainless steel 403 in the NaCl solutions is studied. It is shown that the experimental results obtained under the potentiostatic conditions do not provide sufficient information on the behavior of steel under the conditions of free corrosion. The corrosion experiments take long time, their results exhibit poor reproducibility; however, they are necessary for obtaining reliable data on the corrosion behavior of steel. The development of corrosion process is reflected in the variation of corrosion potential with time. The effect of concentration and temperature of NaCl solutions on the development of pitting corrosion is studied. The peculiarities of the distribution of pits over the test specimen surface are revealed. In 1 M NaCl solution at 20°C, few pits arise. Some of them repassivate; some pits grow, initially, in diameter and depth and, then, almost only in depth. The examples of through pit formation on the specimens 4 mm thick are presented.     

Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy studies of pitting corrosion of reinforcing steel bar

Pitting corrosion of reinforcing steel bar (rebar) imbedded in concrete by chloride ions can cause concrete degradation. It is thus necessary to develop methods to mitigate concrete corrosion which could include using a protective polymer rebar coating. Corrosion studies of polyvinyl butyral-carbon black polymer-coated rebar using soft X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microprobe and micro-X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (μ-XANES) are reported in this study. After removal of the polyvinyl butyral-carbon black polymer coating, Fe Lα₁, Mn Lα₁, and O Kα₁ XRF maps were collected as well as Fe and Mn L₃-edge μ-XANES spectra from different regions across the whole rebar surface by collection of total electron yield (TEY) and partial XRF yield (PFY) spectra. The distribution of metallic Fe and Fe corrosion products was determined by analysis of the Fe XRF map. The μ-XANES spectra indicated a higher fraction of Fe (III) phases on the corroded rebar surface, while Fe (II/III) phases were the major corrosion products beneath the surface region. In addition, Mn (II) and Mn (III) were determined as the valence states of the manganese corrosion products.     

Analysis of pitting corrosion rate

A method for estimating pitting corrosion rate is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of anodic and cathodic voltammograms that were measured on the specimens of two types: on the test specimen coated with an oxide film, which formed under the open-circuit conditions, and on the specimen, whose surface was totally activated with aggressive ions. The use of Tafel portions of these voltammograms in various combinations enables us to estimate the corrosion potential and corrosion current for general corrosion proceeding in the induction period, for pitting corrosion at the initial stage of its development, for a highly developed pitting corrosion, when the major area of specimen surface is occupied with pits, and also in the intermediate case.     

Introducing a low-cost tool for 3D characterization of pitting corrosion in stainless steel

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Herein, we propose an approach to three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of corroded samples to have access to information about the shape, diameter,...     

Direct evidence of initial pitting corrosion

The chloride ion (Cl⁻) is known as an aggressive species in the aqueous solutions that adsorbs to the imperfect sites on the metal surfaces, such as defects, impurities and second-phase particles. This adsorption process could change the chemical composition and properties, such as ion conductivity, of the passive film. As a result, the passive film becomes less protective and breaks down at some places where the underlying metals are exposed to the electrolyte and dissolved through anodic reaction forming a pit. In the meantime, the hydrolysis (cathodic reaction) occurs inside the pit giving rise to a lower pH and leading to an increased dissolution rate of the metals. Subsequently, more chloride ions migrate into the pit in order to maintain electrical neutrality and adsorb onto the pit surface. The repeating of such process causes the pitting propagation. However, anodic polarization allows the chloride ions to migrate into the passive film more easily. With growth of the pit, more corrosion products make both in plane diffusion across the sample surface and out-of-plane diffusion to bulk solution from the pit mouth [M.G. Fontana, N.D. Greene, Corrosion Engineering, second ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1978].     

Studies on the pitting corrosion of zinc in aqueous solutions II. Measurement of pitting corrosion currents operating under natural conditions

A simple experimental arrangement was applied for the measurement and the evaluation of pitting corrosion currents operating under natural conditions. The feasibility of the procedure was examined by using Zn as a test metal, K₂CrO₄, Na₂HPO₄ and Na₂WO₄ as inhibitors, and Cl^?, Br^? and I^? as pitting corrosion agents. Both the type and concentration of the inhibiting and corroding agents were varied in a programmed manner. In CrO₄^2? and HPO₄^2? solutions, the pitting corrosion currents started to flow after an induction period, which decreased with increase in the concentration of the attacking agent. In WO₄^2? solutions, on the other hand, initially high currents were recorded due to the reduction of the agent to soluble, non-inhibiting species.In all solutions tested the corrosion current reached steady-state values which depended on the type and concentration of both the inhibiting and the aggressive anions. When keeping the inhibitor concentration constant, the corrosion current varied with the concentration of the aggressor according to: log i_corr = a₁ + b₁ log c_agg On the other hand, in solutions of constant aggressor concentration, with varying inhibitor amounts, the relation was: log i_corr = a₂ ? b₂ log c_inh where a₁(a₂) and b₁(b₂) are constants.The two equations were derived theoretically on the basis of competitive adsorption of the two counteracting agents on the surface of the metal. Comparison between the experimental values of a and b, with the corresponding terms of the theoretical equations was made.The aggressivity of the three tested anions decreases in the order Cl^? > Br^? > I^?, whilst inhibition varied as CrO₄^2? > HPO₄^2? > WO₄^2?.     

Electrochemical noise analysis of pitting corrosion of J55 steel in NaCl + NaHCO3 electrolytes

Electrochemical noise (EN) was used to study the pitting corrosion of J55 steel in NaCl/NaHCO₃ electrolytes. Below critical ratio for Cl^? to HCO^?, the corrosion rate increased with added NaCl, and conversely, decreased above that level. Also, the critical ratio was between 1 and 1.66. The PSD for potential and current noise were linear and rather gently sloped. J55 casing steel was quite sensitive to NaCl/NaHCO₃ electrolytes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical instabilities due to pitting corrosion of iron

Electrochemical instabilities induced by chlorides and bromides due to pitting corrosion of iron in sulfuric acid solutions are investigated. Analysis of the electrochemical instabilities as a function of the applied potential and the nature and concentration of the aggressive chemical species shows that the system exhibits a transition from aperiodic bursting of large-amplitude to small-amplitude chaotic oscillations at a critical potential (bifurcation potential, E _bif). The E _bif is determined by the halide concentration inside the pits and coincides with the repassivation potential defined in corrosion studies to explain pit repassivation due to changes in pit chemistry. Surface observations show that, at E < E _bif, an active-passive state dissolution (etching) occurs, while at E > E _bif, a polishing state dissolution is reached. Spatial interactions between early initiated pits and the adjacent electrode surface, oxide film alteration, aggressive species accumulation around active pits, and formation of ferrous salt layers in front of the Fe electrode are all considered to be associated with electrochemical instabilities emerging during pitting corrosion of iron under different dissolution states. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2006, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 535–550. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Use of scanning reference electrode technique for characterizing pitting and general corrosion of carbon steel in neutral media

The scanning reference electrode technique (SRET) was used to characterize the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in the NaNO₂-containing chloride solution and tap water. In 10⁻³ MNaNO₂+10⁻³ MNaCl+10⁻³ MNa₂SO₄ solution, the passivated carbon steel surface suffered the pitting. In this case, the size of anodic and cathodic areas on the corroding surface varied with the exposed time, but anodic and cathodic sites did not change. On the contrary, the carbon steel was corroded generally in the tap water. The localized anodes and cathodes on the corroding surface were not fixed but movable with the exposed time during the whole corrosion process, and the “movable anodes” can be in situ monitored and momentarily identified by SRET measurements.     

Electrochemical and acoustic emission studies of aluminum pitting corrosion

The potentiodynamic and acoustic emission studies were carried out in a typical three-electrode electrochemical cell. The working electrode was prepared from aluminum alloy 1050A. Cyclic polarization and acoustic emission investigations of pitting corrosion were carried out simultaneously. On the basis of acoustic and potentiodynamic (cyclic polarization) investigations pitting corrosion potential was determined and compared.     

XPS imaging investigations of pitting corrosion mechanisms in Inconel 600

The surface chemistry associated with pitting corrosion on a nickel‐based alloy, Inconel 600, has been studied using imaging x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The irregularity of the sample surfaces necessitated a more elaborate background correction than is usually applied in such imaging. Areas of active pitting were found to contain corrosion products that are high in chromium oxide and depleted in nickel and iron. Sites of anodic activity on the surface were able to be defined more clearly using principal component analysis. Elements that are dissolved preferentially are deposited cathodically within well‐defined regions whose distance from the anodic pit appears related to the open‐circuit potential. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improvement of pitting corrosion resistance of a biomedical grade 316LVM stainless steel by electrochemical modification of the passive film semiconducting properties

In the present paper we show that a significant improvement in pitting corrosion resistance of a biomedical grade stainless steel, 316LVM, can be achieved by the formation of a surface passive oxide film under cyclic potentiodyanamic polarization (passivation) conditions. A complete absence of pitting in physiological simulating solutions was demonstrated, while the electrochemically formed passive film maintained its very high pitting resistance even at higher chloride concentrations in the bulk solution. The improvement in the film’s pitting corrosion resistance was correlated with its semiconducting properties.     

Relationships between microstructure and pitting corrosion of ADI in sodium chloride solution

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) has complex microstructure containing a multiphase matrix (called ‘ausferrite’), graphite spheres and oxide inclusions. The corrosion resistance of ADI is related to its microstructure which is determined by heat treatment parameters (like austempering temperature, austempering time, austenitising temperature and austenitising time). In the present paper, the electrochemical behaviour and corrosion resistance of ADI have been investigated by means of the electrochemical microcell technique and classical electrochemical measurements in sodium chloride solution. Particular attention has been paid to the influence of austempering temperature on the microstructure and pitting corrosion. It has been shown that ADI austempered at 430 °C has upper ausferritic microstructure and reveals a better corrosion resistance in sodium chloride solution than ADI austempered at 280 °C. Moreover, the corrosion resistance increases as the volume fracture of ferrite increases and the carbon content of austenite decreases. The good corrosion behaviour of ADI austempered at 430 °C was also related to the good coarsening of the austenite grains and broad ferrite needles (less ferrite/austenite interfaces). It has been demonstrated that silicon is the alloying element hindering the anodic dissolution of the alloy.     

Stochastic approach to the spatial analysis of pitting corrosion and pit interaction

This paper presents a stochastic analysis of spatial point patterns as effect of localized pitting corrosion. A test of randomness is performed by means of the inter-event distance method. The robustness of the method is tested with two artificially generated samples. The method is applied to published empirical data. The results complied when spatial regularity of pits was found and showed discrepancy when pit interaction was observed.     

Correction to: Effects of environmental factors on key kinetic parameters relevant to pitting corrosion

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry -     

Study on the corrosion behavior and pitting mechanism of Ni-based alloy coatings in chloride ion media

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The metastable pitting characteristics of Ni-based alloy coatings in chloride ion media have been investigated, and a pitting model based on empirical...     

Kinetic approach to mild steel corrosion

Summary The rate of steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid solutions in the absence and in the presence of inhibitors is studied. It is found that the process dynamics is described by an exponential kinetic equation of self-accelerating reactions in the absence of inhibitor and by an equation of a zero order in its presence.