Corrosion

Corrosion is the deterioration of a material through chemical or electrochemical reactions with its surroundings. It commonly transforms metals into more stable compounds such as oxides or sulfides.

Electrochemical corrosion: Material deterioration driven by coupled oxidation and reduction reactions that transfer electrons through a material and an electrolyte. This is the principal mechanism for corrosion of metals exposed to conductive moisture.
Corrosion inhibitor: A substance that reduces the rate of corrosion when added in small amounts to an environment. Inhibitors slow reactions in systems such as pipelines and cooling-water circuits.
Oxidation-reduction reaction: A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons between substances. Corrosion of metals commonly couples metal oxidation with reduction of another species.
Erosion: The removal of material from a surface by moving fluids, particles, or other mechanical action. Erosion is physical removal, though it can combine with corrosion as erosion-corrosion.
Rust: A collection of iron oxides and iron oxyhydroxides formed when iron corrodes in the presence of water and oxygen. Rust is the familiar corrosion product of iron and steel.
Anodic reaction: An oxidation half-reaction in which a substance loses electrons. Metal atoms dissolve at anodic sites by losing electrons.
Cathodic protection: A technique that suppresses corrosion by making a metal structure the cathode of an electrochemical cell. It protects buried or immersed structures by supplying protective current.
Electrolyte: A substance that conducts electricity through the movement of ions when molten or dissolved. A thin electrolyte film can complete the ionic path needed for electrochemical corrosion.
Wear: The loss or deformation of material caused by contact and relative motion between surfaces. Wear is mechanically driven rather than chemically driven, though both can act together.
Stress corrosion cracking: Crack formation and growth caused by the combined action of tensile stress and a corrosive environment. Corrosion can trigger sudden fracture even when overall material loss is small.

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