corrosion
Sign in to savethumb|Corrosion on exposed metal, including a bolt (fastener)|bolt and nut
AI overview
Corrosion is the process where metal gradually breaks down and deteriorates when exposed to elements like air and moisture, as seen in the rust and decay visible on bolts and other metal fasteners. It matters because corrosion can weaken structures and equipment, potentially causing them to fail or become unsafe over time.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
34 sectionsContents
- Galvanic corrosion
- Galvanic series
- Corrosion removal
- Resistance to corrosion
- Intrinsic chemistry
- Passivation
- Corrosion in passivated materials
- Pitting corrosion
- Weld decay and knifeline attack
- Crevice corrosion
- Hydrogen grooving
- High-temperature corrosion
- Microbial corrosion
- Metal dusting
- Protection from corrosion
- Surface treatments
- Applied coatings
- Reactive coatings
- Anodization
- Biofilm coatings
- Controlled permeability formwork
- Cathodic protection
- Sacrificial anode protection
- Impressed current cathodic protection
- Anodic protection
- Rate of corrosion
- Economic impact
- Corrosion in nonmetals
- Corrosion of polymers
- Corrosion of glass
- Glass corrosion tests
- See also
- References
- Further reading
thumb|Corrosion on exposed metal, including a bolt (fastener)|bolt and nut
Corrosion is a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable oxide. It is the gradual deterioration of materials (usually a metal) by chemical or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Corrosion engineering is the field dedicated to controlling and preventing corrosion. thumb|left|Riveted connection of elements of the cooling tower of a power plant from 1904. Increased material volume caused by corrosion. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of a metal reacting with an oxidant such as oxygen (, gaseous or dissolved), or ions (, hydrated protons) present in aqueous solution. Rusting, the formation of red-orange iron oxides, is perhaps the most familiar example of electrochemical corrosion. This type of corrosion typically produces oxides or salts of the original metal and results in a distinctive coloration. Corrosion can also occur in materials other than metals, such as ceramics or polymers, although, in this context, the term degradation is more common. Corrosion degrades the useful properties of materials and structures including mechanical strength, appearance, and permeability to liquids and gases.