what is corrosion? how it could be prevented
Answers
What Is Corrosion?
Corrosion is a deterioration of a material caused by environmental interactions. It is a natural phenomenon, requiring three conditions: moisture, a metallic surface, and an oxidizing agent known as an electron acceptor. The process of corrosion converts the reactive metal surface into a more stable form, namely its oxide, hydroxide, or sulfide. A common form of corrosion is rust.
Corrosion can have a variety of negative effects on metal. When metal structures suffer from corrosion, they become unsafe which can lead to accidents, such as collapses. Even minor corrosion requires repairs and maintenance. In fact, the annual direct cost of metallic corrosion is approximately $2.2 Trillion USD worldwide!
While all metals corrode, it is estimated that 25-30% of corrosion could be prevented using suitable protection methods.
How to Prevent Corrosion
You can prevent corrosion by selecting the right:
metal type
protective coating
environmental measures
sacrificial coatings
corrosion inhibitors
design modification