Effects of tritiated hydrogen peroxide and chloride on the behavior of N 08932 stainless steel

Tritiated water contains radiolytic hydrogen peroxide. The corrosion potential of N 08932 stainless steel, as well as the redox potential of tritiated water, taken immediately from a closed storage vessel with a high pressure of radiolytic gases, are in the passive-transpassive region. After removal from storage, the concentration of tritiated hydrogen peroxide decreases and these potentials are in the prepassive or passive region showing the importance of the radiolytic species concentration on passivity and corrosion. The change of passive oxide layer characteristics depends on passive potentials, hydrogen peroxide and chloride concentrations. In this medium, the passive potential domain becomes narrower: the pitting potential shifts towards negative values, and the corrosion potential towards more positive values. The oxide capacitance value increases rapidly. Comparison without Cl- shows that the passive oxide layer is much less insulating.