Some Observations Of the Potentials Of Stainless Steels in Flowing Sea Water

Available information on the EMF potentials of stainless steels has been limited to a relatively few grades. There has been no information on neither the free-machining grades nor the new alloys. This article reports potentials in seawater of nine standard grades and three new grades of stainless steel. The effects of heat treatment, free-machining element and crevice corrosion on the EMF potentials are discussed. The relation of these potential values to those of other common alloys is indicated. The testing equipment set-up at the Harbor Island Marine Test Station is described and illustrated by photographs.