The polarization behavior of the redox reactions of hydrogen (H2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on 304 stainless steel (SS) in high temperature, high purity water was studied in order to determine the electrochemical kinetic constants, such as Tafel slopes, exchange currents, orders of reaction and other parameters. These values are necessary to develop the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) predicitve model for boiling water reactors (BWRS), which is used to monitor the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) susceptibility of sensitized austenitic SS.
Keywords: electrochemical polarization, oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, 304 SS, high temperature water, BWR