The initiation time and propagation associated with crevice corrosion on alloy 625 (UNS-N06625) and S31603 (UNSS31603) tubing in flowing natural seawater has been successfully detected by polarization resistance measurements. A substantial decrease in the polarization resistance accompanied the initiation of crevice corrosion which was confirmed by visual observation of the attack through transparent crevice formers and by a decrease in the corrosion potential. After sixty one days
exposure, the test was terminated and the degree of crevice corrosion attack was quantified as area of attack, depth of penetration, and mass loss. An excellent inverse correlation between mass loss during the exposure period and the final polarization resistance was obtained for both UNS-N06625 and UNS-S3 1603. An inverse correlation between area of attack and depth of penetration with the final polarization resistance was also examined. The utilization of polarization resistance
measurements for determining the onset of crevice corrosion and the mass loss due to crevice corrosion was clearly established. It is also interesting to note that the affected area of crevice corrosion for the UNS-N06625 increased continually following initiation while the depth of attack remained relatively constant and shallow.