Development of pitting corrosion on 20Kh13 steel

The nucleation and propagation of corrosion pits on 20Kh13 steel in the NaCl solutions with various concentrations, temperatures, and pH values are studied under the potentiostatic conditions and at the free-corrosion potential. In the potentiostatic experiments, the variations of the depth and diameter of pits and their number with the time are determined. It is shown that the state of metal surface in a certain area adjacent to the active pits changes. The dimensions of the area are estimated. The results, which were obtained at the free-corrosion potential, were much less reproducible. At the free-corrosion potential, in contrast to the potentiostatic conditions, the pit depth increased only slightly and the pit width increased to a larger extent. It is shown that the pH value of NaCl solutions has a pronounced effect on the development of pitting corrosion on 20Kh13 steel.