Microscopy Microanalysis Microstructures · 1997 · 24 citations · 14 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceCorrosion ScienceElectrochemistrySurface ScienceCorrosion EngineeringCorrosion KineticsCorrosion MechanismsCorrosion Of SteelsElectrochemical CorrosionPitting CorrosionChromium Carbide PrecipitationMartensitic Stainless SteelsMartensitic Steel CorrosionMartensitic SteelsPotential ControlScanning Probe Studies Of PittingStainless Steel CorrosionStainless Steel Pitting
Pitting corrosion has been studied for more than 5 decades by many different techniques, which have never had the capacity to observe the formation of pits in situ. New techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) or Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) enable the investigations of the evolution of a surface in solution under potential control. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of pitting corrosion of a martensitic stainless steel. Using an AFM able to work in a electrochemical cell, the formation of the corrosion pits was observed in situ. The pitting corrosion was observed to commence on the chromium carbide precipitates and peaks were formed on the surface as an intermediate step.
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