A Study by Low Energy SIMS of Chromium Behavior in an Oxide Film of Low-Chromium Steel

Chromium has an important role for passivation of metal surfaces. Many researchers have studied the composition and structure of oxide film on the surface of various kinds of iron-chromium alloys by means of XPS [1], AES [2, 3], ISS [4] and SIMS [5]. These surface analyzing methods afford to give information on the topmost surfaces. Tjong et al. [3] have studied the alloys (Cr; 3, 9, 12 and 18%) and found the bulk compositions of these alloys may bring significant changes of growth rate of oxide on them. Buczek et al. [2] also reported that the thickness of oxide was reduced as chromium content in an alloy increased.