Corrosion & Rust

What is Corrosion?

Corrosion is generally described as the deterioration of metal due to an electrochemical reaction. If physical attack accompanies corrosion, the deterioration may be described as corrosion fatigue, corrosion-erosion, corrosive wear, etc.

What is Rusting?

"Rusting applies to the corrosion of iron or iron-based alloys with formation of corrosion products consisting of hydrous ferric oxides. Nonferrous metals, therefore, corrode but do not rust."
(From Corrosion and Corrosion Control, third edition, H.H. Uhlig, and R.W. Revie, John Wiley and Sons, 1985.)

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