Austenitic stainless steels passivity austenite stabilizers

An interesting aspect of the expression (10) concerns the case of metals and passive alloys because the real polarization potential exhibits a discontinuity around the zone of transition from active to passive state. In fact, if Ip denotes the passivity current density, the value of the discontinuity is of the same order of magnitude as R,IpS because during this transition the current intensity falls very rapidly. The discontinuity may be very pronounced because the values of Ip, which depend on the type of metal, the environment and temperature, may be very high. In the case of the AISI 321H titanium-stabilized, austenitic stainless steel in 1 M HCIO4 -1- 0.3 M NaCl solutions at 25 °C, the value of Ip depends on the thermal history of the specimen [50]. In meiny instances it was found to be about 10 mAcm . ... 

A schematic summary of the alloying metals that affect the anodic polarization curve of stainless steel is shown in Fig. 4.16. The addition of 8% nickel to an alloy containing 18% chromium forms austenitic structure SS Type 304. The addition of Mn and N increases the stability of austenitic steel. The chromium content of stainless steel affects the anodic polarization curves as shown in Fig. 4.16. Nickel promotes repassivation in a corrosive environment, but concentrations higher than 30% reduces the passivation current, the critical current density, and increases the critical pitting potential. Nitrogen... 

Molybdenum is markedly enriched in the metallic phase just below the passive film. (It is to be noted that for austenitic stainless steel this enrichment is accompanied by the enrichment of nickel indicated earlier.) Again, a stabilizing effect... 

The passive film formed on austenitic stainless steel is duplex in nature, consisting of an inner barrier oxide film and an outer deposit of hydroxide or salt film. Passivation takes place by the rapid formation of surface-absorbed hydrated complexes of metals that are sufficiently stable on the alloy surface that further reaction with water enables the formation of a hydroxide phase that rapidly deprotonates to form an insoluble surface oxide film. The three most commonly used austenite stabilizers—nickel, manganese, and nitrogen—all contribute to the passivity. Chromium, a major alloying ingredient, is in itself very corrosion resistant and is foimd in greater abundance in the passive film than iron, which is the major element in the alloy. 

Austenitic stainless steels appear to have significantly greater potential for aqueous corrosion resistance than their ferritic counterparts. This is because the three most commonly used austenite stabilizers, Ni, Mn, andN, all contribute to passivity. As in the case of ferritic stainless steel. Mo, one of the most potent alloying additions for improving corrosion resistance, can also be added to austenitic stainless steels in order to improve the stability of the passive film, especially in the presence of Cl ions. The passive film formed on austenitic stainless steels is often reported to be duplex, consisting of an inner barrier oxide film and outer deposit hydroxide or salt film. 

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