(1) Corrosion and Protection Center, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China;(2) Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
Abstract:
In this work, a scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to characterize in situ the metastable and stable pitting processes occurring on a stainless steel in the chloride solution. It was found that metastable pitting would occur on the steel that was at corrosion potential and passive potential. The positive shift of potential would enhance the metastable pitting current. On application of a potential exceeding pitting potential, the pit became stabilized and maintained a continuous growth. The SECM is capable of detecting the microdissolution event and provides a “visual” observation of the pitting processes.
