The study of passive layers grown on AIR 316 stainless steel in solutions that simulate concrete pore environments contaminated with Cl- is presented. Model solutions of saturated Ca(OH)(2) and cement extract (CE) with and without the addition of 5 g/L of NaCl are compared. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows different electrochemical responses of passive layers grown on samples immersed in these solutions under open circuit potential (ocp). A more resistive passive film was found on the samples exposed to the CE solution. The different voltammetric responses suggest differences in composition of the passive layers formed on each solution. XPS spectra confirm the dissimilarity in atomic composition. Optical microscope images and AFM images of the pits formed on the samples illustrate the differences of AIR 316 surface topography after exposure to model solutions. Because of these differences, it is recommended to use CE solution as a model solution and ocp passivation to simulate concrete environments. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.