Computer Simulation of Pitting Corrosion of Stainless Steels

摘要

Stainless steels and other corrosion resistant alloys are generally protected from the environment by thin layers of surface oxides. Unfortunately, these films are not perfect and are subject to catastrophic local breakdown, which leads to rapid corrosion of the metallic substructure. The safety and environmental hazards associated with these events and the resultant economic impact is enormous. Therefore, significant practical benefits could be gained from reliable quantitative models for pitting corrosion of stainless steels. This article discusses the need for reliable predictive models for pitting corrosion that combine robust models for both the pit nucleation and pit propagation processes. The article discusses key aspects of pit nucleation and propagation, describes how models describing these processes can be combined, and provides insights into multiple pit interactions that may occur. The article concludes with a discussion of challenges that remain to acquire full description of the pitting corrosion of stainless steels.