Conventional wisdom states that Ebd (the breakdown potential) is the potential above which pits are initiated, while Erp(the repassivation potential) is the potential below which pits repassivate. The breakdown potential is usually defined as the potential at which there is a large increase in the applied current, while the repassivation potential is the potential on the reverse scan at which the applied anodic current becomes zero (i.e., the current changes polarity). Thus, the higher the value of Ebd, the more resistant is the alloy to the initiation of localized attack. The higher Erp, the more easily the alloy can repassivate. At potentials between Erp and Ebd, sites that have initiated can propagate.