Real-time microelectrochemical observations of very early stage pitting on ferrite-pearlite steel in chloride solutions

The initiation site and morphology during the early stage of pitting on AISI 1045 carbon steel that has a microstructure of primary ferrite and pearlite were investigated in boric-borate buffer solutions with and without NaCl at pH 8.0. The pits initiated by micro-scale polarization were in the pearlite only and not in primary ferrite. In situ real-time observations during the micro-scale polarization of pearlite in a boric-borate buffer solution with 100 mM NaCl indicated that the pits were polygonal or rod-like in shape. In addition, it was found that the pit growth direction was the same as that of the pearlite lamellae that consisted of ferrite and cementite. Field-emission electron probe micro analysis detected segregated points of sulfur in the ferrite lamellae. On the basis of their etching behavior in 3% nital, the corrosion resistance of the cementite was estimated to be higher than that of the ferrite lamellar structure. Thus, pits readily initiated in the ferrite lamellae and proceeded along the ferrite lamellae.