(i) Proposed a breakdown mechanism for anodic films from thermodynamic considerations.
(i) Showed that thin films always contain film pressure due to “electrostriction.” (ii) Hypothesized that both the surface tension of the film and the film thickness have a significant effect on film pressure. (iii) Proposed that adsorption of chloride ions, depending on their concentration, greatly reduces surface tension.
(i) Derived an equation for the work required to form a cylindrical breakthrough pore in the passive film.
(i) Proposed that for a pit nucleus to grow to macroscopic size a critical radius corresponding to critical pore formation energy must be exceeded.
Experimental proof is not found. Microstructural parameters such as grain boundaries, inclusions that may influence pitting “initiation” were not considered.
