Corrosion and electrochemical behavior of stainless steels under cathode polarization in nitric acid solutions

1. A study was made of the effect of the chromium and nickel content of stainless steels on their corrosion and electrochemical behavior in nitric acid solution when their passive state is destroyed. 2. The decrease in the dissolution rate of iron-chromium alloys with an increase in their chromium content is caused by the combined effect of chromium both in retarding solution from the active state and facilitating passivation of the alloy and in increasing the overvoltage of the cathode process of nitric acid reduction. 3. The introduction of nickel into stainless steels has the opposite effect to chromium on their corrosion and electrochemical behavior in nitric acid solution.