High rate anodic dissolution in chloride solutions of steel after electrothermochemical treatment

High rate (up to 15 A/cm 2 ) anodic dissolution of St3 steel in chloride solutions (1–6 M NaCl) was investigated after its electrothermochemical al treatment (nitriding and thermal treatment). Various potential ranges (or current density ranges) can be emphasized: the region of anodic anion activation (sublimiting currents), the diffusion limitation area (caused by salt passivation), and the transpassive dissolution region. It is shown that the heat treatment influence is the most substantial in the region of salt passivation (or the limiting current region). The double role of the hydrodynamics is revealed during dissolution under these conditions: the influence of the ionic mass transfer rate in the solution and of the removal of the hard carbonaceous products produced as a result of the selective dissolution of the components of the nitrided steel. It is shown that, in sublimiting currents and transpassive dissolution ranges, the specific dissolution rate depends on the nitrogen content of the studied steel.