An in situ AFM study of the first steps of localised corrosion on a stressed 304L stainless steel in chloride media

We use a set-up combining an AFM and an electrochemical cell to study in situ the local corrosion of a 304L stainless steel in an aqueous chloride-containing solution. We focus on the sites where pits initiate under controlled potential. We show the influence of the mechanical history of the material on the location of the first pits: it appears that 70% of the pits initiate at strain hardened areas resulting from mechanical polishing.