Passive films on stainless steels—chemistry, structure and growth

The outstanding corrosion resistance of stainless steels results from the presence of a thin oxide—‘passive’—film on the metal surface, typically 1–3 nm thick. The characterisation of the composition and structure of such thin films and the study of their interaction with corrosive environments requires a combination of sophisticated experimental techniques. This paper reviews progress in the characterisation and understanding of passive films...