How Does Corrosion of Metal Occur?

Corrosion of metals occurs when two metals with opposite potential come into contact and one of them has a higher melting point than the other. At room temperature, iron (the most common alloy) is actually a combination of three stable alloys: steel, tungsten, and nickel. These metals are all very strong and can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, but there is one type of corrosion that they are very vulnerable to: the electrochemical reaction between the metals.

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Corrosion can also occur when the surface on the metal object is damaged and then is subject to external environmental issues such as oxygen and water. There is a way that this damage can be prevented. Surface Treatments such as the one from Poeton place a protective surface over the metal product, a bit like a second skin. This then helps to protect the item from damage.

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Electrolysis is the process by which metals lose their electrochemical potential and form into either rust or the softer form of mildew. There are a few different types of corrosion, but each is characterized by the way in which the metal corrodes. Rust is known as a non-metallic corrosion and it takes place when the metal surface separates from the environment.

Galvanic corrosion happens when the metal corrodes because of the passage of an electric current through it. In this case, there is no direct contact between the metal and its environment and there is also no attempt to introduce any sort of catalyst. It is the current itself which causes the oxidation, and it is usually in the form of rust. The most common galvanic corrosion products are lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, aluminum, and rust.