XPS depth profiling study on the passive oxide film of carbon steel in saturated calcium hydroxide solution and the effect of chloride on the film properties

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study the properties of passive oxide film that form on carbon steel in saturated calcium hydroxide solution and the effect of chloride on the film properties. The thickness of the oxide films was determined to be approximately 4 nm and was not affected by the exposure time. Near the film/substrate interface the concentration of the Fe2+ oxides was higher than the concentration of the Fe3+ oxides; the layers near the free surface of the film mostly contained Fe3+ oxides. Chloride exposure decreased the thickness of the oxide films and changed their stoichiometry such that near the film/substrate interface Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio increased.