The corrosion process

Reasons and process
Metals (except gold and platinum) are chemical compounds with other elements and they transfer to a pure state by chemical or metallurgical means (by reporting energy).
During the smelting process and various forms of treatment iron and steel products get different forms of energy.
Corrosion is the tendency of reversion to its original state by reducing the energy input.
The corrosion process relates to an electrochemical type.
The corrosion process can be initiated between the two metals with different electrical potentials or between different micro-regions of the same metal. The metals present the poles of a galvanic cell, where the metal or field with a higher electrical potential serves as the cathode, and those whose potential is below serves as anode.
Corrosion is a stream of electrons generated by the anode (which corrode) to the cathode, where they receive (and stay protected).


The electrolytic process
Two necessary conditions:
1. Anode and cathode should be immersed in the electrolyte: acid solutions, the basic and salt;
2. Return conductor there.


Environmental Factors
In the electrochemical process of corrosion the joint and fundamental role plays: the atmosphere, water (soft or hard), soil, synthetic substances and other factors, which act as the electrolyte between the anode and cathode areas.
The corrosion rate mainly depends on the potential difference, the electrolyte’s pH, temperature, degree of humidity. To protect steel from the corrosion –it means just to remove at least one of the conditions (see above) that make it impossible for the reaction.
All methods of protection tend to have an impenetrable barrier of isolation from the external environment, which is an electrolyte.