Abstract
THE passivity of iron has been known for more than a century, but until recently interest has mainly been directed to treatments which render iron inert to copper salts ; such treatments do not necessarily prevent rusting by natural waters. Three sets of observations in this laboratory have indicated how passivity to such waters might be obtained. (1) The film present on iron rendered 'passive' in chromate appears to be the air-formed film with its weakest places fortified with chromium oxide1 ; a 'patchwork' is not ideal for protection. (2) The coarser the grinding of an iron surface, the longer the time needed to produce passivity2. (3) Susceptibility to corrosion, as judged by statistical studies, varies from spot to spot and is influenced by chemical character3.
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References
Hoar, T. P., and Evans, U. R., J. Chem. Soc., 2476 (1932).
Evans, U. R., J. Chem. Soc., 1030 (1927).
Mears, R. B., Carnegie Scholarship Memoirs, 24, 69 (1935). Compare C. E. Homer, Iron and Steel Inst. Corr. Comm. 2nd Report, 225 (1934).
Mears, R. B.,and Ward, E. D., J. Soc. Chem. Ind., 53, 382T (1934).
Evans, U. R., Iron and Steel Inst. Corr. Comm. 5th Report, 225 (1938).
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EVANS, U. Passivity of Iron to Natural Waters. Nature 142, 160–161 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/142160c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/142160c0
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