Electrochemical reactions of freshly bared metal surfaces using the fluid impacted guillotined electrode

A description is given of a new method for examining the repassivation and pitting characteristics of freshly hared metal surfaces in situ. The method consists of guillotining a potentiostatically controlled electrode surface while it is under impact from a driven electrolyte jet. Because the fluid jet is of known and controlled velocity, the method allows examination of corrosion and repassivation of freshly bared metal surfaces as a function of the hydrodynamic conditions. Results are presented which describe the repassivation and pitting of guillotined. 304L stainless steel surfaces in chloride solution, showing the effects of impact by the fluid jet. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.1378291] All rights reserved.