Mechanism of corrosion of AISI 304L stainless steel in the presence of nitric acid condensates

Corrosion of stainless steels in the presence of nitric acid condensates is far more severe than in the liquid bulk and can lead to intergranular atta ck even on non-sensitized steels. Parametric corrosion tests were performed in order to determine the effect of various factors on this type of corros ion. Specific apparatus was designed to control and characterize nitric con densates. An electrochemical study of the reduction of nitric acid on a pla tinum electrode and on a stainless steel electrode allows linking of the re sults of the corrosion tests to the process of reduction of nitric acid. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.