SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.19342 Abstract Service life predictions of reinforced concrete structures are underpinned by the passivation film chemistry, structure, and thickness.