In situ local dissolution of duplex stainless steels in 1 M H2SO4+1 M NaCl by electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy

Local dissolution behavior of duplex stainless steel UNS S32304, UNS S31803, and UNS S32750 in 1 M H2SO4 + 1 M NaCl was studied in situ by electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Submicrometer features could be resolved and events occurring at phase/grain boundary regions could be monitored in the solution. By STM imaging, severe local dissolution was observed on UNS S32304 in the form of both pitting-like dissolution occurring at the active potential region, and selective dissolution of ferrite phase that already started at the corrosion potential. On UNS S31803, no pitting-like corrosion was observed, but a small amount of selective dissolution occurred at anodic potentials in the active region. The phase boundary region seemed to be prone to local dissolution. No noticeable local dissolution was observed on UNS S32750 in this solution in active and passive potential regions. The results show that a sufficient amount of both Mo and N in duplex stainless steel resulted in more homogeneous dissolution of the two phases and strengthened phase boundaries, and thus decreased the risk for local dissolution. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.