KINETICS OF OXIDE GROWTH ON METAL SURFACES

A short review of the principles governing the oxidation of metals is presented. The initial stage of the oxidation process involves the chemisorption of oxygen, frequently followed by dissociation and at least partial ionization. The growth of continuous oxide films or scales is considered in terms of various rate-limiting processes such as anion or cation diffusion through the bulk oxide, mass or electron transport across one of the interfaces, or electron transfer processes associated with the chemisorption step