Pits with coloured halos formed on 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel surface after ennoblement in seawater

Micropits surrounded by coloured halos were observed under incident-light microscope on 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel surface after “ennoblement” in seawater. Ennoblement has been attributed to biofilm formation on stainless steel surface in seawater. In this study, the environment in biofilm for ennoblement was simulated by adding H2O2 into seawater at concentrations that were reported to detect in marine biofilm [N. Washizu, Y. Katada, T. Kodama, Corros. Sci.46 (2004)1291.]. H2O2 increased the passivity of stainless steel in seawater, but this passivation was not uniform. The probability of pitting corrosion was increased after ennoblement. Equal thickness interference on the deposition film around the pits was believed to be the reason for the coloured fringes. It is conceivable that haloed pits on the stainless steel surface are the characteristic morphological indications for pitting corrosion formed under ennoblement condition in seawater. Examinations on the microbial and structural effects of the biofilm were not included in this study.