Kinetics of passive film formation on various martensitic stainless steels in solutions of three different pH values was studied by the potentiostatic step method. Experimental results for the current-time dependence can be explained theoretically by solving Fick's second law. Results indicated that, above a certain pH value of solution, there was a change in the kinetics of passive film formation that caused the steels to be corrosion-resistant in solution. The value of the passive potential and chromium content in the alloy seemed to affect this transient point. From experimental data, approximate values for the diffusion layer thickness (δ) were obtained.

This content is only available as a PDF.
NACE International
2000
You do not currently have access to this content.