Imaging Local Surface Reactivity on Stainless Steels 304 and 316 in Acid Chloride Solution using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy and the Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique

•Direct screening of differences in the resistance against breakdown of the passive layers formed on steels by microelectrochemical methods.•Imaging domains of similar topography but different corrosion characteristics.•Distinguishing iron soluble species released from propagating pits.•Distinct effect of polarization on the onset of pit nucleation for different stainless steel compositions.