Critical Factors for Controlling the Stability of the Passive Film on Stainless Steels

摘要

In order to understand the stable passivity of stainless steels, the critical factors including the mechanism of reductive dissolution relating to breakdown and repair of passive film have been reviewed based on recent evidence. The Cr enrichment in the passive film by two stage process and alloying effect are discussed in detail. The importance of the relationship between critical passivation current density, i_(crit), in acidic solution and pitting potential, E_(pit), in chloride solution is emphasized for understanding the stability of passive stainless steel.