Corrosion

Definition of Corrosion

Corrosion is defined as a refined metal that is naturally converted to a more stable form such as its hydroxide or sulphide state. Metal corrodes when it reacts with another substance such as oxygen, hydrogen or bacteria. Corrosion can also happen when metals are placed under too much stress causing the material to crack. Corrosion leads to deterioration of the material.

Stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant, making it suitable for use in environments where exposure to moisture, chemicals, or harsh conditions such as salt water is expected.

In this section you can find newsitems related to all types of corrosion such as stress corrosion cracking, intergranular corrosion, pitting, and corrosion fatigue. If you wish to include your news release on our website and email newsletter, please feel free to contact the editor.

Stainless tubes datasheet

A new datasheet on stainless steel seamless tubes for hydraulic and instrumentation systems is now available from Sandvik.

Sandmeyer adds LDX 2101®

Sandmeyer Steel Co. has added LDX 2101® (UNS-S-32101, EN1.4162) to its extensive line of corrosion resistant stainless steel and nickel alloy plate and plate products.

Stainless tubes for GTL project

Sitindustrie Group, with its Swiss Co. Zwahlen & Mayr, has acquired an order to supply VSA Consortium, gathering Veolia Water, Saipem and Al Jaber, with 230tns of high corrosion resistance welded stainless steel tubes for the building of 3 evaporators for the Shell Pearl gas to liquid (GTL) project in Qatar.

254 SMO® for oil platforms

Outokumpu has made the first supply of its high-performance super-austenitic grade 254 SMO® for an offshore project in Qatar, to be used on the topside of oil platforms in the Al Shaheen offshore oil field.

Gateway upgrade project

The Gateway Upgrade Project, to duplicate a motorway bridge across the Brisbane River in Australia’s Queensland, will use duplex LDX 2101® stainless steel reinforcement bar from Outokumpu.

Fin-fan cooler contract

A supply chain of small diameter stainless steel tubes supplied by Sandvik Materials Technology to fabricator Spiro-Gills for contractor Jacobs Engineering has resulted in...

Overlay welding strip

Sandvik has introduced a new welding strip titled Sandvik 24.29.5.Lcu, for overlay welding. Suitable for oil and gas applications, such as pipe and tube, heat exchangers as well as chemical plant and vessel repair.

Sosta employs duplex stainless

Sosta has used Outokumpu’s 2205 duplex stainless steel coil to manufacture pipes for a natural gas flowline to be installed at the Burhan West...

Online stainless training module

The Nickel Institute has launched a new online training module designed to assist English and Chinese-speaking engineers, designers and those who specify materials to select an appropriate type and grade of stainless steel for their particular needs.

Hart b.v. at Stainless Steel Expo 2007

Hart b.v., a specialist in heat and corrosion resistant materials, will present her products and services at the Stainless Steel World 2007 Expo in Maastricht for the fifth time running.


Corrosion can be a big problem because it can cause significant damage and deterioration to various materials, particularly metals. We have listed below several reasons why corrosion is a significant concern:

Structural Integrity: Corrosion weakens the structural integrity of materials. When metals corrode, they lose their strength and load-bearing capacity, which can lead to failures and collapses in infrastructure, buildings, bridges, pipelines, and other critical structures.

Economic Impact: Corrosion imposes substantial economic costs. The direct expenses associated with corrosion include repairs, replacements, and maintenance of corroded structures and equipment. Additionally, there are indirect costs such as production losses, decreased efficiency, and increased energy consumption due to the effects of corrosion on industrial processes and machinery.

Environmental Consequences: Corrosion can have adverse environmental effects. For example, in the case of pipelines, corrosion can lead to leaks and spills of hazardous substances, causing soil and water pollution and damaging ecosystems.

Health and Safety Risks: Corrosion can create health and safety risks in various ways. For instance, when corrosion affects pipelines or storage tanks carrying toxic substances, it can lead to leaks or releases that endanger the health of workers, communities, and the environment.

Maintenance and Downtime: Corrosion necessitates regular maintenance and inspection programs to detect and mitigate its effects. This requires significant time, effort, and financial resources. Additionally, when corrosion-related issues arise, it often requires shutting down operations, causing downtime and productivity losses.

Given these reasons, it is crucial to understand and address corrosion through preventive measures, protective coatings, corrosion-resistant materials, regular inspections and testing (ASTM B117), and appropriate maintenance practices to mitigate its impact and ensure the longevity and safety of structures and equipment.