Pre-oxidation of stainless steel: a study by diffuse reflection spectroscopy

Stainless steel pre-oxidation by H2O2 was studied by diffuse reflection spectroscopy as a function of exposure time, temperature, concentration of H2O2 and pH of the reagent solutions. Full quantification of the diffuse reflection spectroscopy is carried out by combining absorption, reflection and interferometric features yielded by the passive layer. The oxide layer, which consists mostly of a hematite solid solution is characterised by spectral analysis. Its thickness is derived from the diffused reflection spectral data and analysed as a function of the investigated experimental parameters. q1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.