The effect of strain rate (SR) on the non-stationary electrochemical process of the passive layer cracking, for SRs covering a range of values (10(-5) to 16 x 10(-5) s(-1)) was examined. Investigations were conducted on 304L stainless steel at room temperature in chloride solutions using dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As a result, a set of instantaneous impedance spectra reflecting the system dynamics was recorded and is presented in this paper. Moreover, changes of electrochemical parameters and their derivatives are included in the paper for a better description of the substantial dynamics. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.