Initial stages of corrosion pits on AISI 1040 steel in sulfide solution analyzed by temporal series micrographs coupled with electrochemical techniques

•We propose a three-dimensional model to follow the pit growth.•The pit depth can be estimated.•The approach allowed to use 2D localized with 3D nonlocalized information.

This work presents a study of the initial instants in the pitting corrosion of AISI 1040 steel, analyzed by temporal series micrographs coupled to an open circuit potential (Eoc) and polarization curves. During the Eoc measurement, the pit induction time and the initial pit growth in MnS inclusions was detected in alkaline sulfide solution. The pit area behavior has two distinct rate of area changes in specific regions directly associated to current slope changes. Finally, it was possible to create a three-dimensional model of the pit depth evolution on the metal, using Faraday’s law and the bullet-shaped geometry.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide