Why Study Corrosion

Most people are familiar with corrosion in some form or another, particularly the rusting of an iron fence and the degradation of steel pilings or boats and boat fixtures. Piping is another major type of equipment subject to corrosion. This includes water pipes in the home, where corrosion attacks mostly from the inside, as well as the underground water, gas, and oil pipelines that crisscross our land. Thus, it would appear safe to say that almost everyone is at least somewhat familiar with corrosion, which is defined in general terms as the degradation of a material, usually a metal, or its properties because of a reaction with its environment. 

In a modern business environment, successful enterprises cannot tolerate major corrosion failures, especially those involving personal injuries, fatalities, imscheduled shutdowns, and environmental contamination. For this reason considerable efforts are generally expended in corrosion control at the design stage and in the operational phase. This is particularly true for industries where harsh chemicals are handled routinely. 

Corrosion can lead to failures in plant infrastructure and machines which are usually costly to repair, costly in terms of lost or contaminated product, in terms of environmental damage, and possibly costly in terms of human safety. Decisions regarding the future integrity of a structure or its components depend upon an accurate assessment of the conditions affecting its corrosion and rate of deterioration. 

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With this information an informed decision can be made as to the t)rpe, cost, and urgency of possible remedial measures. 

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