Corrosion Fundamentals
|
Forms of Corrosion
The forms of corrosion described here use the terminology in use at
NASA-KSC. There are other equally valid methods of classifying
corrosion, and no universally-accepted terminology is in use. Keep
in mind that a given situation may lead to several forms of corrosion on
the same piece of material.
(Click on
Title for a Detail Explanation)
Illustration |
Form
of Corrosion |
|
Uniform
Corrosion
This is
also called general corrosion. The surface effect produced by most
direct chemical attacks (e.g., as by an acid) is a uniform etching
of the metal.
|
|
Galvanic
Corrosion
Galvanic
corrosion is an electrochemical action of two dissimilar metals in
the presence of an electrolyte and an electron conductive path. It
occurs when dissimilar metals are in contact. |
|
Concentration
Cell Corrosion
Concentration
cell corrosion occurs when two or more areas of a metal surface
are in contact with different concentrations of the same solution. |
|
Pitting
Corrosion
Pitting
corrosion is localized corrosion that occurs at microscopic
defects on a metal surface. The pits are often found underneath
surface deposits caused by corrosion product accumulation. |
|
Crevice
Corrosion
Crevice or
contact corrosion is the corrosion produced at the region of
contact of metals with metals or metals with nonmetals. It may
occur at washers, under barnacles, at sand grains, under applied
protective films, and at pockets formed by threaded joints. |
|
Filiform
Corrosion
This type
of corrosion occurs on painted or plated surfaces when moisture
permeates the coating. Long branching filaments of corrosion
product extend out from the original corrosion pit and cause
degradation of the protective coating. |
|
Intergranular
Corrosion
Intergranular
corrosion is an attack on or adjacent to the grain boundaries of a
metal or alloy.
|
|
Stress
Corrosion Cracking
Stress
corrosion cracking (SCC) is caused by the simultaneous effects of
tensile stress and a specific corrosive environment. Stresses may be
due to applied loads, residual stresses from the manufacturing
process, or a combination of both.
|
|
Corrosion
Fatigue
Corrosion
fatigue is a special case of stress corrosion caused by the
combined effects of cyclic stress and corrosion. No metal is
immune from some reduction of its resistance to cyclic stressing
if the metal is in a corrosive environment. |
|
Fretting
Corrosion
The rapid
corrosion that occurs at the interface between contacting, highly
loaded metal surfaces when subjected to slight vibratory motions is
known as fretting corrosion. |
|
Erosion
Corrosion
Erosion
corrosion is the result of a combination of an aggressive chemical
environment and high fluid-surface velocities. |
|
Dealloying
Dealloying is
a rare form of corrosion found in copper alloys, gray cast iron, and
some other alloys. Dealloying occurs when the alloy loses the active
component of the metal and retains the more corrosion resistant
component in a porous "sponge" on the metal surface. |
|
Hydrogen
Damage
Hydrogen
embrittlement is a problem with high-strength steels, titanium, and
some other metals. Control is by eliminating hydrogen from the
environment or by the use of resistant alloys. |
|
Corrosion
in Concrete
Concrete is a
widely-used structural material that is frequently reinforced with
carbon steel reinforcing rods, post-tensioning cable or prestressing
wires. The steel is necessary to maintain the strength of the
structure, but it is subject to corrosion. |
|
Microbial
Corrosion
Microbial
corrosion (also called microbiologically -influenced corrosion or
MIC) is corrosion that is caused by the presence and activities of
microbes. This corrosion can take many forms and can be controlled
by biocides or by conventional corrosion control methods. |
Return
to Corrosion Fundamentals Page
|