Oxide films very thin

Inasmuch as friction conditions determine the flow characteristics of a powder, coarser powder particles of spherical shape flow fastest and powder particles of identical diameter but irregular shape flow more slowly. Finer particles may start to flow, but stop after a short time. Tapping is needed in order to start the flow again. Very fine powders (fine powder particles to coarser ones may increase the apparent density, but usually decreases the flow quality. Metal powders having a thin oxide film may flow well. When the oxide film is removed and the friction between the particles therefore increases, these powders may flow poorly. 

Manometric and volumetric methods (kinetics) Thermogravimetry (kinetics from very thin films to thick scales stoichiometry) Electrical conductivity of oxides and allied methods (defect structures conduction mechanisms transport numbers) Radioactive tracers and allied methods (kinetics self diffusion markers)... 

Anionic diffusion in the oxidation of a convex surface creates a situation which is the reverse of that just described. The oxide is in tension along planes parallel to the surface and fracture may be expected to occur readily in perpendicular directions and starting from the gas/metal interface. Although very thin films may have resistance to fracture, thick films frequently acquire the morphology shown in Fig. 1.83. 

The outstanding characteristics of the noble metals are their exceptional resistance to corrosive attack by a wide range of liquid and gaseous substances, and their stability at high temperatures under conditions where base metals would be rapidly oxidised. This resistance to chemical and oxidative attack arises principally from the Inherently high thermodynamic stability of the noble metals, but in aqueous media under oxidising or anodic conditions a very thin film of adsorbed oxygen or oxide may be formed which can contribute to their corrosion resistance. An exception to this rule, however, is the passivation of silver and silver alloys in hydrochloric or hydrobromic acids by the formation of relatively thick halide films. 

Films Once corrosion has started, its further progress very often is controlled by the nature of films, such as passive films, that may form or accumulate on the metallic surface. The classical example is the thin oxide film that forms on stainless steels. 

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