The effect of temperature on the nucleation of corrosion pits on titanium in Ringer's physiological solution.

This paper describes the effect of temperature on the nucleation of corrosion pits on titanium microelectrodes in Ringer's physiological solution. The results are shown for potentials far below the pitting potential, and describe breakdown of passivity with no permanent propagation of pits. Nucleation events could be observed at all the temperatures used, although they were very rare events at 20 degrees C. The frequency of breakdown rises significantly with increase in temperature. Examples are shown of current transients due to both pit nucleation and to metastable pit propagation, the latter being rare events. Analysis shows that these events constitute a significant fraction of the passive corrosion rate of titanium.