The mechanism of metal corrosion passivation

The main regularities of variations in the thermodynamic properties of components of cubic vanadium carbide, depending on the composition in the region of homogeneity, are investigated experimentally. It is believed that these regularities are inherent only to metal oxides. This serves as the basis for the concept that passivation during the corrosion of metals occurs due to the formation of surface metal oxide whose composition corresponds to the maximum concentration of oxygen in the region of homogeneity. The thermodynamic stimulus of corrosion is in this case reduced to almost zero.