Effect of Cl− on Passivation Properties of Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel

In this work, Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N (wt.%) high-nitrogen stainless steel (HNSS) was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electrochemical testing. The corrosion behaviors of Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N HNSS with different concentrations of NaCl were studied. The composition of a passive film on Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N HNSS was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at an applied potential of 0.2VSCE. The results showed that, with the increase in Cl− concentration, the corrosion tendency and corrosion rate of Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N HNSS get higher. In the solution of a low Cl− concentration, the fraction of Fe and Cr oxides in the passive film is higher, and the passive film is thicker and more stable. By increasing the stability of the passive film and preventing its rupture, the elevated NH4+ concentration can enhance the corrosion resistance of Fe-20Cr-20Mn-0.75N HNSS in a NaCl solution.