Corosion

02/13/26

“Why do objects corrode?”

You’ve probably heard people talking about objects corroding away. You may have even used the term itself. But what does it mean, and what’s the process behind it? Well, when a metal is exposed to environmental factors, it may lose electrons, becoming an anode. These electrons may then travel along the metal where a reduction reaction occurs (cathode), such as oxygen and water. The products of this redox reaction will then react with the metal ions to form oxides, leading to a degradation of the material. This Corosion process is affected by the presence of potential anodes, cathodes, electrolytes, and electrical conductors. Rusting is a form of corosion. Corrosion is a critically important factor for material design, whether it’s for water supply pipes or electrical transformers.