Transient stability of passive films in aqueous solutions

This discussion is concerned with the fundamental interactions of mechanical and chemical processes as they affect transient breaking and re-formation of passive films. These combined effects are important in many technical modes of degradations including: stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, wear, machining, grinding, fretting, erosion with and without entrained abrasives, and cavitation. These interactions of mechanical and chemical processes occur at surfaces of metals and involve the mechanically-induced breaking of films followed in sequence by transient film-free dissolution and repassivation. There is no useful theory for these transient electrochemical processes. This discussion provides a framework for advancing the fundamental understanding of such processes.