Electrochemical investigation of the effects of hydrogen on the stability of the passive film on iron

By Zheludkevich, M.L.; Serra, R.; Montemor, M.F.; Yasakau, K.A.; Salvado, I.M. Miranda & Ferreira, M.G.S.
Published in Electrochimica Acta NULL 2002

Abstract

The effects of hydrogen on the stability of passive films on iron were investigated by electrochemical methods: open circuit potential decay, cathodic galvanostatic reduction, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and breakdown potential measurements. The results show that hydrogen decreases the final static open circuit potential, the cathodic charge for reduction and the charge transfer resistance of the passive film, indicating that hydrogen decreases the stability of the passive film. The charge transfer resistance of the passive film formed on the charged specimen does not change with increasing the film formation potentials, suggesting that increasing film formation potentials under hydrogen charging conditions cannot improve the stability of the passive film. Hydrogen decreases the breakdown potential of the passive film, especially at lower chloride ion concentrations, confirming that hydrogen promotes the susceptibility of the passive film on iron to pitting corrosion. The reasons why hydrogen decreases the stability of the passive film were discussed.

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