Low-nickel and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel (SS) passive films were studied using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). An alkaline Ca(OH)(2) saturated test solution containing different chloride additions was used at room temperature. The passive film formed consists mainly of an inner chromium-rich oxide layer and an outer iron-rich oxide layer. The chemistry of the passive film depends strongly on the chloride content in the alkaline solution. Under these exposure conditions nickel was detected in the outer part of the oxide, whereas chloride ions were not found in the passive film for either the low-nickel or AISI 304 SS alloys. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.