corrosion

Corrosion is a natural process which can attack any metal or alloy under the right conditions. Since metals are so widely used in today's modern world, corrosion is all around us and can affect our lives in many ways. Corrosion eats away at steel in outdoor furniture and automobile bodies, causing unattractive appearance and eventual failure if it is not treated. Corrosion also causes tarnishing of silver, rusting of iron cookware, etc. Of far greater importance, the corrosion of steel rebar in reinforced concrete can proceed out of sight and suddenly (or seemingly so) result in failure of a section of highway, the collapse of electrical towers, damage to buildings, etc., resulting in significant repair costs and endangering public safety. Perhaps most dangerous of a...