Effects of hydrogen on formation of passive films on AISI 310 stainless steel

Abstract

Abstract The amount of oxide and the thickness of passive films on AISI 310 stainless steel pre-charged with hydrogen were found to be smaller than those on the uncharged samples. It is believed that one of the causes of the higher susceptibility to corrosion of stainless steels containing hydrogen is that the dissolved hydrogen degrades the passive film formed on the stainless steel. Evidence has also been obtained that passivity is associated with the oxides at the inner region of the passive film.