Abstract
Some mild steels when chemically polished in oxalic acid/hydrogen peroxide solutions developed oxide films, containing chromium, which were unusually resistant to removal. The same steels developed similar films during electrochemical passivation in sulphuric acid. Susceptibility to chromium enrichment seems to be not solely influenced by chromium content but is affected by heat-treatment and possibly depends on some chromium remaining in solution in the ferrite. For mild steels, chromium enrichment does not prevent brightening, but for steels deliberately alloyed with chromium it may.
Chromium enrichment of the surface of a stainless steel was also found after electrochemical polishing. The use of anodic oxidation at constant current for the examination of stainless steel surfaces is discussed.
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