Trends in electrochemical polarization potentiodynamic reactivation method

Abstract

The EPR test, designed to examine of the susceptibility to non-uniform, primarily intergranular corrosion, ranks among the more succesful testing technique developments relating to stainless steels and alloys. One of its numerous advantages is that it lends itself to non-destructive, on-site examination. EPR enjoyed wide expansion over the years since first conceived by Číhal in 1969. Recent EPR measurements tend to focus on double and/or single loop EPR as a modern technique used to establish the resistance of stainless steels and alloys to intergranular corrosion; detecting intergranular corrosion and intergranular corrosion stress cracking susceptibility in alloy steels and nickel alloys for nuclear engineering application; and studies of grain boundary precipitation and other minute local changes to alloy composition and structure.