| Abstract: | Some Aspects on Corrosion Fatique of Stainless Steels. Part 1 Passivity and Pitting Corrosion Susceptibility Iron‐Chromium‐Nickel alloys are of special interest for many applications because of their excellent resistance to corrosion. The nature and composition of passive films formed on stainless steels depend on the prevailing conditions, viz. steel‐composition, passivation potential, aging, pH, electrolyt composition and temperature. Passive films may be damaged by local breakdown. At least two mechanisms are possible for this localisation: mechanical breakdown by slip steps and electrochemical breakdown (for e.g. by the effects of chloride ions). Because of this, steels suffer a degradation of their fatique properties when exposed to an aqueous environment. Passivation of austenitic, ferritic‐austenitic and martensitic stainless steels has been studied in different solutions using electrochemical techniques. The results clarified that for two of the investigated alloys the prediction of fracture initiation based on pitting corrosion in chlorid containing solutions is possible. (To be continued.) |
