Corrosion

What is corrosion? What types of corrosion are there?

Corrosion is the natural process by which refined metals are converted into chemically more stable shapes such as oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and sulphides. It is the gradual destruction of a material (usually a metal) by a chemical and/or electrochemical reaction with its environment. Rust is the most commonly used word when referring to damaged metal. But rust is not the correct name for all metals. Only steel that contains iron causes rust. Other metals corrode. This can often cause confusion, but corrosion is the all-encompassing term. Below you can see what types there are.

Oxygen corrosion

Oxygen corrosion is the most visible shape of corrosion. For example, if a steel part is left outside in the rain for too long, a reaction will occur. The rainwater and humidity cause steel to corrode. The oxide skin has a brown colour and is open in structure. The openness allows moisture and oxygen to penetrate easily. The reaction will continue until the steel is eventually gone. There are also types of metal that have a closed oxide film, such as aluminium (ADC12), copper and stainless steel. These types of metal offer very good protection against oxygen corrosion.

How does rust form on steel (iron)?

In the case of steel, rust (corrosion) occurs when steel is exposed to oxygen and water. For example, by a part made of steel standing outside in the rain. Over time, oxygen and iron combine at an atomic (indivisible) level. This creates a new connection called iron oxide. Water is a good catalyst, speeding up the whole process. In seawater, this process is much faster because the salt acts as a conductor.

Impact of corrosion

Corrosion leads to reduced mechanical strength, aesthetic degradation and can significantly hinder the functionality of metal components. In the vehicle industry, for example, corrosion can shorten the life of vehicle components such as lighting and chassis.

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