The distributions of corrosion potential and galvanic current of 304 stainless steel under a NaCl droplet were studied by using the wire beam electrode (WBE). It was found that the distributions of the electrochemical parameters were heterogeneous with isolated anodic and cathodic zones appeared randomly. During the corrosion process, the polarity of some anodes changed with the evolution of time. The localized corrosion rate and heterogeneity increased firstly, and then decreased afterward with the increase of time, which can be attributed to the cooperative effects of the aggressive ions and the corrosion products.
Effect of Applied Stress on the Initiation of Localized Corrosion for Sensitized 304 Stainless Steel in Aqueous MgCl2 Solutions