Stainless Steel Passivation

Definition

Stainless steel relies on a chromium oxide film only atoms thick but remarkably tenacious and self-healing. When damaged it reforms almost instantly as a protective chromium oxide layer.

The self-healing chromium oxide film lets stainless steel survive environments that would rapidly destroy carbon steel. However repassivation is limited by two constraints: low-oxygen anaerobic environments interfere with film reformation, and chloride-rich environments make localized attack more likely. Stainless steel is therefore not always the best choice despite its strong passive film.

Related concepts

Passivation · Repassivation · Chloride Attack

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧱 materials