We investigated the effect of surface finish of two AISI 304L (UNS S30403) stainless steels on the corrosion potential (Ecorr) in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution and its value was compared with the pitting potential (Ep) value and the type of anodic potentiodynamic curve obtained for determination of Ep in this solution. Five different surface finishes were examined. Ecorr and its standard deviation are strongly affected by the type of surface finish. Moreover, there are evidences of a linear correlation between Ecorr and Ep, as well as between the percentage of anodic curves with a well-defined pitting potential and the uncertainty in the determination of Ecorr.

The duplex stainless steels, having a volumetric fraction of 50% ferrite and 50% austenite, conciliate high corrosion resistance with good mechanical properties. But, in many circumstances different phase transformations may occur, such as that responsible for sigma phase precipitation, which make the steel susceptible to localized corrosion. During the sigma phase precipitation a new austenitic phase is formed with a very low corrosion resistance. In the present research the composition of this new austenitic phase was evaluated in four duplex stainless steels, with different Mo, N and Cu contents. After the solution anneal at 1050 °C, samples of these steels were aged at 850 °C during 1 h and 5 h for sigma phase precipitation. Using the ferritoscope and an image analyzer it was possible to determine the volumetric fractions of ferrite and sigma phase, respectively, while those of austenite and the new austenitic phase were determined by difference to 100% volume. Finally, by using mass balance it was possible to determine theoretically the composition of the new austenitic phase. This phase is poor in Cr and Mo free, which explains its poor corrosion resistance.

The influence of niobium on corrosion resistance to 0.5M H2SO4 of 17% Cr ferritic stainless steels, to which it was added in amounts larger than that necessary to stabilize the interstitial elements, was investigated. Their performance was compared to that of other two Fe-17%Cr alloys, one without additions and another containing 0.93% molybdenum. Through weight and electrochemical measurements and through morphologic examination of corroded surface it was found that the corrosion of these alloys, with the exception of that containing molybdenum, proceeds in two different steps. In the first step (up to about 60 min) the corrosion rate practically does not change with time, the lower rates being displayed by alloys containing larger amounts of Nb. In the second stage the corrosion rate increases with time. The corrosion rate of Mo containing alloy is constant for all times.