This paper presents electrochemical behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel with a silica layer in a stagnant bulk solution of 0.1 M NaCl. Layers composed of densely packed 350 nm diam silica particles were deposited cathodically on stainless steel at a constant voltage by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Quite smooth and crack-free silica layers less than about 80 mu m in thickness were obtained and the thickness of the layer depended linearly on the deposition time. It is proposed that silica layers deposited by EPD can be used as simulated particulate layers to investigate localized corrosion of corrosion-resistant alloys under atmospheric environments. Electrochemical properties of silica-coated stainless steel samples in 0.1 M NaCl were investigated. The cathodic polarization behavior depended on the thickness of the silica layer; the limiting current density for oxygen reduction reaction decreased with increasing silica layer thickness. The effect of the silica layer on anodic polarization behavior was not remarkable. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.