Overview of Corrosion

What is corrosion

The electrochemical reaction between a material and its environments that produces a deterioration of the material and its properties. Corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials (usually a metal) by electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engineering is the field dedicated to controlling and preventing corrosion.

Types of corrosion

Depending upon the various physical morphology of the attack, the types of corrosion are classified into various groups. Types of corrosion are as follows:

  1. Uniform corrosion
  2. Pitting corrosion
  3. Crevice corrosion
  4. Galvanic corrosion
  5. Erosion corrosion
  6. Inter-granular corrosion
  7. Stress corrosion cracking
  8. Selective leaching

Corrosion Protection

  1. Barrier Protection: Provided by a protective coating that acts as a barrier between corrosive elements and the metal substrate
  2. Cathodic Protection: Employs protecting one metal by connecting it to another metal that is more anodic, according to the galvanic series
  3. Corrosion Resistant Materials: Materials inherently resistant to corrosion in certain environments