passivation

(noun)

The spontaneous formation of a hard non-reactive surface film (usually an oxide or nitride) that inhibits further corrosion.

Related Terms

  • aluminum
  • oxide
  • coke

(noun)

Refers to a material becoming "passive," that is, being less affected by environmental factors such as air or water.

Related Terms

  • aluminum
  • oxide
  • coke

Examples of passivation in the following topics:

  • Preventing Corrosion

    • Passivation is a process through which a thin film of corrosion products builds on a metal surface to serve as a barrier against oxidation.
    • The formation of a passivation layer is affected by environmental pH, temperature, and chemical conditions.
    • These pores allow an oxide film, thicker than a passivation layer, to build up.
  • Oxides

    • For example, aluminum foil develops a thin skin of Al2O3 (called a passivation layer) that protects the foil from further corrosion.
    • As mentioned above, a well-known example is aluminum foil, which is coated with a thin film of aluminium oxide that passivates the metal, slowing further corrosion.
  • Aluminum

    • Aluminum is resistant to corrosion due to the phenomenon of passivation.
  • General Properties of Metals

    • The transition metals (such as iron, copper, zinc, and nickel) are slower to oxidize because they form a passivating layer of oxide that protects the interior.
  • Iron

    • Unlike many other metals which form passivating oxide layers, iron oxides occupy more volume than iron metal.
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