Effect of H2O2 on the corrosion behavior of 304L stainless steel

In connection with the safe storage of high level nuclear waste, effect of H2O2 on the corrosion behavior of 304L stainless steel was examined. Open circuit potentials and polarization curves were measured with and without H2O2. The experimental results show that H2O2 increased corrosion potential and decreased pitting potential. The passive range, therefore, decreased as H2O2 concentration increased, indicating that pitting resistance was decreased by the existence of H2O2 in the electrolyte. These effects of H2O2 on corrosion of 304L stainless steel are considered to be similar to those of γ-irradiation. To compare the effects of H2O2 with those of O2, cathodic and anodic polarization curves were made in three types of electrolyte such as aerated, deaerated, and stirred electrolyte. The experimental results show that the effects of H2O2 on the corrosion behavior were very similar to those of O2 such as increase of corrosion potential, decrease of pitting resistance, and increase of repassivation potential. Further, H2O2 played much greater role in controlling cathodic reaction rate in neutral water environment. In acid and alkaline media, potential shifts by H2O2 were restricted by the large current density of proton reduction and by the le Chatelier's principle respectively