Purpose – The purpose of this study was to investigate the pitting resistance and assess the critical pitting temperature (CPT) of a super martensitic stainless steel, 00Cr13Ni5Mo2, made in China, considering especially the difference in the pitting corrosion resistance between the domestic super martensitic stainless steel and an imported one. Design/methodology/approach – Potentiodynamic sweep tests were applied to investigate the effects of four NaCl concentrations (weight per cent) of 1, 3.5, 9 and 17, and four testing temperatures of 30, 50, 75 and 90°C on the pitting resistance of the domestic super martensitic stainless steel in the presence of CO2. Potentiostatic sweep tests were utilized to determine the CPT. Furthermore, chemical immersion exposures, implemented according to the appropriate standard were used to evaluate the difference in the pitting corrosion resistance between the domestic super martensitic stainless steel and an imported one. In addition, the morphology of pits was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Finding – The pitting potential of the domestic super martensitic stainless steel decreased with an increase in NaCl concentration and temperature in the presence of CO2. The CPT of the domestic super martensitic stainless steel measured by potentiostatic polarization was 41.16°C. Two types of typical corrosion pits, closed pits formed at 35°C and open pits formed at 50°C, were observed. Furthermore, compared to the super martensitic stainless steel made in Japan, the domestic one was better in terms of pitting potential, corrosion rate and the density of the pits, but worse in terms of the depth of the pits, which may result in a risk of corrosion perforation of tubing and casings. Originality/value – The paper highlights that chloride ions, temperature and the presence of CO2 play an important role on the pitting resistance of super martensitic stainless steel.

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