Corrosion is the name given to the natural process that converts refined metal into oxide. That sounds good as it is natural. But, it really means the natural process that causes metal to rust. The field of corrosion control was created to help scientists know everything they could about this process and, therefore, find ways of thwarting it. You can also visit metal protective coating.
Considering the number of items we use on a daily basis that are made from metal, preventing them from rusting away is an important field of study. It is also one that most people know very little about.
How Corrosion Control Works
The basis of corrosion control is to investigate and design coatings that can be applied to the metal or other material to prevent corrosion. The coating should be impenetrable, protecting the integrity and strength of the material underneath.
Of course, there are many things that can cause corrosion, that’s why there are different top coatings available and in use for different products. In many cases, the corrosion coating is only viable for a specified period. After that, it needs to be reapplied ort corrosion will take hold.
It should be noted that corrosion control is not limited to protecting cars from the effects of salt and water in the air.
This field of study also deals with corrosion when exposed to environmental extremes, such as a spacecraft going into orbit.
The Assessment Process
As with most protective compounds, it is comparatively easy to create a coating that doesn’t work as efficiently as indicated. This reduces the quality of a product and its ability to do its job.
To ensure this isn’t the case, a dedicated Nace inspector is required to sign off on any corrosion coating. They verify that it is capable of protecting the material in the way described.
If you’re looking into buying something with a corrosion coating it’s a good idea to have the coating checked by the Nace inspector. It doesn’t just give you peace of mind, it ensures the chosen product will last.
There are several types of corrosion coatings you should be aware of:
- Barriers
These are simple applications, such as paint and lacquer on a car or a thin layer of plastic. They effectively protect the material underneath but the barrier is relatively easily damaged, reducing its effectiveness.
- Hot Dips
Hot dips are a way of galvanizing a material. It is only applicable to certain materials, such as dipping steel into molten zinc. The zinc coats the steel and protects It from rusting.
- Alloy
Alloy is a composition of several metals, taking the strengths of each one to create a compound that is corrosion resistant and potentially stronger than the individual components it is made from. Nickel is a great example of this.
- Cathodes
If the metal can’t be treated or coated to protect against corrosion then an anode will be created next to it. The anode is created from a softer metal, allowing it to attract corrosion and leave the essential piece intact.
However, the anodes will need to be replaced regularly.
