Eating away at the surface
A new book not only deals with the basics of corrosion but also provides up-to-date information on testing techniques, characterization methods, surfaces, and interfaces.
February 20, 2008
Preet M. Singh, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Dieter Landolt |
Many engineering schools offer courses on corrosion and since corrosion science and engineering is a mature field, a number of good textbooks are already available for these courses.
However, the majority have not been revised in a long time and do not include new testing or characterization techniques that are gaining popularity. Students generally have to use a number of sources to learn these topics.
I expected Corrosion and Surface Chemistry of Metals by Dieter Landolt to be similar to other textbooks, and in some regards it is. However, it is also very different. It not only provides the basics of corrosion, like thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical and electrochemical reactions, and the different forms of corrosion, but it also provides up-to-date information on testing techniques, characterization methods, and the latest understanding of surfaces and interfaces and their role in corrosion.
This book, originally published in French as Corrosion et Chimie de Surfaces des Métaux, is very well written with appropriate examples and data supporting the basic theories.
It is divided into 12 chapters where the first four chapters deal with the basics of corrosion, including the thermodynamics of corrosion reactions and kinetics. Topics covered in Chapter 2, related to the thermodynamics of corrosion reactions, are similar to some other corrosion textbooks, but the information is provided in such a manner that it is easy to follow.
Mathematical derivations are systematically explained by including the appropriate background material needed to understand the relations.
Corrosion is a surface phenomenon, so to understand a surface reaction it is important to understand how surfaces behave differently from bulk materials. Chapter 3 covers important topics like surface tension effects, adsorption, the electrode-electrolyte interface, and the chemical and structural characterization of interfaces. I found this very useful as all relevant information on surfaces and interfaces is summarized in a single chapter.
Appropriate examples have been used throughout the book to illustrate important concepts. Chapter 4 covers corrosion kinetics, where the basic concepts are discussed very well. What is unique about this chapter is the discussion on transportation effects under different scenarios and how they affect experimental results.
Chapter 5 is devoted to experimental methods for studying electrode reactions. This section explains the theory behind the techniques used to study various aspects of corrosion reaction kinetics and mechanisms and is particularly useful for undergraduates and graduates, who need information on experimental setups and data analysis.
The majority of engineering materials rely on a stable passive film for their corrosion resistance. Chapter 6 is devoted to the passivity of metals and explains the thermodynamics and kinetics of passive film formation, film properties, film characterization techniques, and the breakdown of such passive films.
Chapters 7 to 11 are devoted to different types of corrosion, including localized corrosion, low-temperature oxidation and atmospheric corrosion, high-temperature corrosion, tribocorrosion, and environment-induced cracking.
Tribocorrosion was a new term for me but it is appropriate as this chapter discusses the combined action of corrosion and wear on a material. This chapter describes some basics of friction and lubrication to explain different phenomena like fretting corrosion, erosion corrosion, and cavitation.
The final chapter discusses different ways to prevent or control corrosion. A number of examples are used to discuss different approaches to mitigate corrosion in engineering structures including design, selection of materials, coatings, inhibitors, and electrochemical protection.
Overall this book is very well organized with good schematics and real-life examples are used throughout to illustrate important concepts. The few practice problems in each chapter are a good means of self-assessment for the student.