The scanning Kelvin probe has been applied for the nondestructive analyses of stainless steel surfaces. The influence of oxide thickness, oxide composition, and microstructure on the Volta potential has been studied. The study was performed by subjecting stainless steel of grades AISI 304 (UNS S30400) and AISI 316 (UNS S31600) to various heat treatments and surface treatments and measuring the resulting changes in Volta potential. Both the thickness and the composition of the surface oxide clearly affected the Volta potential of the stainless steel. No significant influence on the Volta potential from the precipitation of chromium carbides and the surface depletion of chromium was observed.

Subject
Potential differences, Probes, Oxide formation, Chromium, Oxide layers, Chromium carbides, Metals, Electric potential, Alloys, Electrochemical potential, Heat treatment, Corrosion potential, Electrode potential
Keywords:
heat treatment, localized corrosion, scanning kelvin probe, stainless steels
NACE International
2005
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