stainless steel cathodes/ electrolysis

[plumber]

Can anybody tell me: If in electrolysis, the role of cathode is to impart electrons only, I am curious as to how "inert" any grade of SS. steal would be if the electrolyte is distilled water. The only other elements being the anode made of pure noble metal and the resulting positive charged ions flowing in the water. DANG. I meant to ask...will the ss steel impart impurities to the surrounding water under these conditions? Oh yeah, at room temperature? Thanks, Plumber

[GAHD]

Your answers lie here.

[plumber]

The forum just ate my reply. there is no way I can do it again...a shorter version perhaps. I will see if this posts

[UncleAl]

Stainless steel is stainless (does not corrode) because its surface micro-oxidizes into adherent ceramic. Cathodes are reductive. I'd do a test before committing. Densified graphite (e.g., POCO) ought to be a nice cathode, possibly bronze or titanium.

Stainless can pit in chloride.

[plumber]

GOOD GAHD MAN!
To OX OR TO NOT REDOX...this is not the question. Help me out here. Electrowinning, electroplating, hydrogen production and nuclear refinement (very caustic). All commercial applications. To them, the cathode is fully inert. That is why there is a big push towards using inexpensive ss steel cathodes in a brush configuration...providing more surface area for the production of hydrogen. They no longer use exotic, composite or expensive noble metals...because the cathode imparts hydrogen only. The corresponding oxides stay on the cathode or at worst precipitate out of solution. Leaving only the solution and the nanoparticals and ions from the noble metal anode. Again, to them, the cathode is inert in regards to the solution. With over two dozen ss steel grades and their perspective additives, CAN LEACHING OCCURE? If there was no current stream and electron/ion flow the answer would be yes!!! These additives would simply leach into distilled water given enough time and or temperature. Chromium, nickle, molybdenum, sulfur etc. are of no concern to these applications and therefore the answer is not readily available. Can such passive leaching occur in this current/voltage environment? Biologically, this would be a concern. Is it even possible for the cathode to do this in a charged solution? There. that's the question.

[plumber]

Hey uncle Al, you had posted while I was responding to Gahd...any more beta, now that I think I got my question out? Thanks