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Seawater as an Electrolyte

 
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Seawater as an Electrolyte.

Seawater is an excellent electrolyte. The presence of a large amount of dissolved salts, sodium chloride (NaCl), that are ionized make it an excellent conductor.

The chloride ions is particularly aggressive as it causes a breakdown of passivity causing pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking on most stainless steel grades.

The chloride ion is also particularly aggressive as most chloride compounds are highly soluble, which limits the formation of polarizing anodic films.

Seawater also usually contains enough dissolved oxygen for reducing water to be the prevalent cathodic reaction in most cases. see also Galvanic Series Metals Seawater

Source : "Corrosion Control" NAVFAC MO-307 September 1992

see also

Seawater Corrosion and Material Selection

Stainless Steel Corrosion Seawater

 

                                                  
   
     
     
 
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