Cathodic sweep and pulse polarization of bare and anodized Al microelectrodes were carried out in alkaline silicate solution. The sweep polarization causes a severe damage to as-polished Al, but reduced and localized damages to the anodized Al. The anodic film resists both cathodic sweep and pulse breakdown. Cathodic pulse polarization can cause capacitive charging and mechanical damage to the oxide film and the substrate depending on the degree of polarization. High cathodic pulse polarization causes sparking and subsequent modification of discharge channels formed by the prior anodic breakdown. The enhancement of plasma formation and sparking during cathodic pulse breakdown is associated with cathodic corrosion of Al, excessive H₂ gas formation and local high electric field. Although sparking cathodic breakdown explodes the discharge channels and causes the loss of coating materials, it does not alter its beneficial role to randomize the sites breakdown by succeeding anodic pulse. The sequential pulses form dense coating materials.

在碱性硅酸盐溶液中进行裸露和阳极化铝微电极的阴极扫描和脉冲极化。扫描极化对抛光后的 Al 造成严重损坏，但对阳极化处理的 Al 造成减少和局部损坏。阳极薄膜可抵抗阴极扫描和脉冲击穿。取决于极化程度，阴极脉冲极化会导致电容充电和对氧化膜和基板的机械损坏。高阴极脉冲极化引起火花和随后由先前阳极击穿形成的放电通道的修改。阴极脉冲击穿过程中等离子体形成和火花的增强与 Al 的阴极腐蚀、过量的 H _{2 相关}气体形成和局部高电场。尽管火花阴极击穿会爆炸放电通道并导致涂层材料的损失，但它不会改变其通过后续阳极脉冲随机化击穿位置的有益作用。连续脉冲形成致密的涂层材料。