Corrosion of metals

Corrosion of metals, from the Latin words corrosio, means gnawing. The process of corrosion consists in gradual destruction of metal structure (surface) as a result of chemical reaction or electrochemical process in environment which they are in. The speed and direction of changes depend also on physical factors, e.g. radiation or tension in elements of loaded structure, and microbiological agents.

Two basic groups of metal corrosion can be distinguished:

• chemical, that occurs in specific, nonconducting environment, and it is divided into dry gases and nonconducting liquids. Oxidation occurs during direct contact with molecules of oxidant, thus the chemical reaction.
• electrochemical

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