The effects of Cu and Zn impurities on the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) of 304 stainless steel (SS) and electrochemical polarization behavior of oxygen and hydrogen reactions in high
temperature water were investigated. The experimental data clearly demonstrated that without catalytically active sites on 304 SS surface, the presence of Cu raised the 304 SS ECP by as much as 300mV in
hydrogen water chemistry. The presence of Cu and Zn in the water or on the surface did not affect the ECP of noble metal treated 304 SS, showing a low ECP...
Keyword: high temperature water, noble metal alloy, polarization, oxygen and hydrogen reactions, stainless steel, recombination kinetics