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Properties of the passive films formed on ferritic stainless steels in Cl/sup -/ Solutions

Journal Article · · Corrosion (Houston); (United States)
OSTI ID:5054958
The pitting resistance of Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Mo alloys has been correlated with characteristics of the passive films analyzed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Increased film protectiveness as a result of increased Cr in the alloy can be directly attributed to Cr enrichment of the film and decreased film thickness. Increased Mo in the alloy or passivation at noble potentials promotes passive film resistance to breakdown, but neither does much to change the macrocharacteristics of the film. Rather, it is suggested that the roles of alloying and/or passivation conditions are related to the susceptibility and distribution of weak points of the film. In solutions in which pitting occurs, chloride is generally not incorporated into the film, suggesting that the role of halides is to interact with weak points of the film at the solution/film interface. At 260/sup 0/C, the films are much thicker and likely to be much more defective in structure than those formed at 80/sup 0/C.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
OSTI ID:
5054958
Journal Information:
Corrosion (Houston); (United States), Journal Name: Corrosion (Houston); (United States) Vol. 40:10; ISSN CORRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English