BEHAVIOR OF DISSOLVED MOLYBDENUM DURING LOCALIZED CORROSION OF AUSTENITIC STAINLESS-STEEL

In situ measurements of salt layers were made during localized corrosi on to determine if Mo additions improved localized corrosion resistanc e of stainless steels by forming a Mo-rich salt layer. A high intensit y 8 mu m diameter polychromatic x-ray beam and an energy dispersive x- ray detector were used to analyze the distribution of the dissolved st eel components at the stainless steel/solution interface. Relative to the steel composition, the salt layer was high in iron with lower frac tions of other metal ions. Only a small fraction of molybdenum was pre sent, negating suggestions that a Mo salt inhibited corrosion.