Corrosion failures create an economic loss in the United States reaching billions of dollars annually. The types of failures responsible for this high cost include general corrosion, pitting corrosion, galvanic corrosion, crevice corrosion, micro biologically-induced corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and others. Using chemical analysis, metallographic examination, scanning electron microscopy, Energy Dispersive Xray
Spectroscopy, and laboratory corrosion testing, it is often possible to identify the cause of corrosion failure based on the observations and a knowledge of the part history. Knowing the cause of corrosion will provide a means to take the logical steps in an effort to prevent future problems. Additionally, laboratory corrosion testing, including immersion testing and electrochemical testing, can be used at the design stage to select the best material for a particular application.
Keywords: corrosion failures, failure analysis, corrosion testing, corrosion prevention