Kinetic model of iron corrosion and passivity

A minimal model of iron corrosion and passivity that predicts periodic current-time behavior is presented. Existing models are linearly stable and lead to steady-state current-voltage profiles that require external fluctuations to induce passivity. A model in which the activation energy for dissolution of a surface oxide increases with increasing coverage gives a collapse in the current-voltage curve at passivation and predicts limit cycle behavior in the current with time.