Effect of alloying Cu on the corrosion resistance of stainless steels in chloride media

In order to explain the effect of alloying Cu on the corrosion resistance of stainless steels in chloride media for both ferritic and austenitic stainless steels, the corrosion behavior of Cu-bearing stainless steels was investigated. Alloying Cu showed beneficial effect in an active potential range and harmful effect in a noble potential range. The beneficial effect of alloying Cu was explained by the stability of deposited Cu on an anodic surface. Difference in the effect of alloying Cu between the ferritic and austenitic steels was ascribed by the differences in their corrosion potentials and the morphology of the deposited Cu. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.