Corrosion Fundamentals

• Corrosion Fundamentals
• Why Metals Corrode
• Electrochemistry
• The Nature of Matter
• Electrochemical Cells
• Forms of Corrosion
• Uniform Corrosion
• Galvanic Corrosion
• Concentration Cell Corrosion
• Pitting Corrosion
• Crevice Corrosion
• Filiform Corrosion
• Intergranular Corrosion
• Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Corrosion Fatigue
• Fretting Corrosion
• Erosion Corrosion
• Dealloying
• Hydrogen Damage
• Corrosion in Concrete
• Microbial Corrosion
• Corrosion Control
• Design
• Materials Selection
• Protective Coatings
• Inhibitors and Other Means of Environmental Alteration
• Corrosion Allowances
• Cathodic Protection
• Sources of Additional Information

Protective coatings are the most commonly used method of corrosion control. They are the subject of several sections of this web site.

Protective coatings can be metallic, such as the galvanized steel shown below, or they can be applied as a liquid "paint." Most of the research and testing of protective coatings at the Kennedy Space Center is related to paint-like protective coatings.

Filiform corrosion occurs underneath protective coatings. The air conditioner on the left is starting to show rust stains due to problems with protective coating. The same types of problems are starting to appear on the aluminum airplane wing shown on the right.

Return to the Corrosion Control Page