The overall current efficiency of the corrosion of type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steel undergoing pitting and crevice corrosion has been measured as a function of applied potential. At all potentials noble to the hydrogen redox potential, pitting was characterized by a current efficiency of 100%. At more noble potentials, the apparent current efficiency of crevice corrosion exceeded 100%. A model for localized corrosion propagation was proposed involving proton reduction as a local cathodic reaction deep in the occluded cell followed by hydrogen reoxidation at the mouth of the cell. The hydrogen gas bubble in the occluded cell acted as a chemical short circuit.
NACE International
1993
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