Room temperature oxide-film formation by oxygen dissolution induced surface directed spinodal decomposition in stainless steel

A detailed thermodynamic assessment has for the first time shown that the rapid oxide film formation on stainless steels subjected to the natural air atmosphere at room temperature is actually facilitated by “oxygen dissolution induced surface directed spinodal decomposition” in the Fe-Cr-O solid solution. The proposed mechanism has led to a clear explanation of the following until now un-explained observations: i) complete compositional...