Passivity and localized corrosion

The high corrosion resistance of many technically important metallic materials is the spontaneous formation of protective oxide films on the surface, as the material is reacting with the environment. To link specific properties of these so-called passive films with the stability of the passive state, mechanisms and critical factors of oxide film formation, chemical and structural properties of the passive films, as well localized breakdown of passivity are being studied on different materials. Strategies to minimize/suppress detrimental effects involve facilitated repassivation, once a localized event has been triggered, or reduction of the number of initiation sites. For an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms in play, experimental techniques enabling the study of the surface reactions with a high time- and size-resolution are employed.