Some aspects of corrosion and film formation of austenitic stainless steel type 316LN using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)

Corrosion and passive film characteristics of 316LN stainless steel with different degrees of cold work (0–25%) were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic anodic polarization techniques in deaerated acidic and alkaline (pH = 8) media. EIS measurements were conducted at open circuit potential (OCP) as well as after passivation in these media. Using the capacitance data from EIS measurements, film thickness was calculated. A definite correlation was observed between film thickness and corrosion rate after passivation. Analysis of the series capacitance and series resistance data from the EIS spectra showed that the films formed at OCP and after passivation were of semiconducting type. The nature of the semiconducting type of films was determined to be n-type using the ratios of anodic and cathodic transfer coefficients (α_a/α_c).