A SHORT INTRODUCTION TO CORROSION AND ITS CONTROL CORROSION OF METALS AND ITS PREVENTION WHAT IS CORROSION Corrosion is the deterioration of materials by chemical interaction with their environment. The term corrosion is sometimes also applied to the degradation of plastics, concrete and wood, but generally refers to metals. The most widely used metal is iron (usually as steel) and the following discussion is mainly related to its corrosion.

Corrosion may be defined as the destruction or deterioration in properties of materials by interaction with their environments. It is a natural phenomenon. Engineers generally consider corrosion when dealing with metallic materials. However, the process affects all sorts of materials, for example, ceramics, plastics, rubber etc. Rusting of iron and steel is the most common example of corrosion. Swelling in plastics, hardening of rubber, deterioration of paint, and fluxing of the ceramic lining of a furnace are all incidences of corrosion in non metallic materials. Metallurgists may think of corrosion as reverse extractive metallurgy. Metals are extracted from their compounds occurring in nature through extractive metallurgy processes involving considerable expenditure of energy, natural resources, time, and man power. Corrosion works to convert the metal I back into the same compounds.

The majority of metals are found in nature in the mineral state, that is, in their stable oxidised condition as oxides, chlorides, carbonates, sulphates, sulphides, etc. The extraction of a metal from the mineral involves a reduction process, which requires a great deal of energy. As a consequence of this large energy input the metal is in a high-energy condition and will endeavour to return to its former stable oxidised low Energy State, as quickly as environmental conditions will allow. It is this energy difference between the pure metal and its oxidised forms which is the driving force for corrosion of the metal. Many corrosion products show a chemical similarity to the corresponding minerals. Iron, for example, is extracted from its ores, mainly oxide and carbonate, by reduction with carbon in a blast furnace. In the presence of moisture and oxygen, the iron metal so obtained is oxidised to rust, which is chemically the same as its ore.

Developments in Corrosion Protection, 2014

Corrosion is the deterioration of materials by chemical interaction with their environment.

References and Definitions Why Metals Corrode Nature of Corrosion Reaction Nature of Metals Effect of Electrolyte Composition Physical Variables Forms of Corrosion

Materials and Corrosion

A global transition towards more sustainable, affordable and reliable energy systems is being stimulated by the Paris Agreement and the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This poses a challenge for the corrosion industry, as building climate-resilient energy systems and infrastructures brings with it a long-term direction, so as a result the long-term behaviour of structural materials (mainly metals and alloys) becomes a major prospect. With this in mind "Corrosion Challenges Towards a Sustainable Society" presents a series of cases showing the importance of corrosion protection of metals and alloys in the development of energy production to further understand the science of corrosion, and bring the need for research and the consequences of corrosion into public and political focus. This includes emphasis on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions, on the lifetime of infrastructures, implants, cultural heritage artefacts, and a variety of other topics.