Technical knowledge base on corrosion, coating systems and metal protection.

Organised articles for technologists, inspectors, applicators and anyone who wants to understand not only what happened on a metal surface, but why it happened.

Currently in the knowledge base

Metal atom ionisation at the metal–electrolyte interface

Metal ionisation – the first step in every electrochemical corrosion process

How a metal atom loses electrons, becomes an ion and initiates electrochemical corrosion.

Pourbaix diagram for iron

Pourbaix diagrams: a map of the thermodynamic stability of metals in water

Potential, pH, immunity, active dissolution, passivation and practical limitations.

Micro-protrusions in a three-coat protective system

Blisters That Weren’t Just Blisters

Analysis of micro-protrusions, wet-film contamination and the spatial distribution of the defect.

Steel pipes with a protective coating

What are protective coatings and how do they protect metal?

The role of coatings, multilayer systems, surface preparation, film thickness and application conditions.

Coating delamination from a machined metal surface

Coating delamination from a machined metal surface

Photographic analysis of adhesive failure, possible causes and a verification plan.

Corrosion on bolts and nuts at a flanged joint

Electrochemical corrosion of steel: what really happens on the metal surface?

Anode, cathode, electrolyte, oxygen, chlorides and rust formation.

Corrosion on steel pipes

What is corrosion and why does it occur?

A clear introduction to corrosion, the necessary conditions, common forms and protection methods.

Blast-cleaned steel reinforcement

What do Sa 2, Sa 2½ and Sa 3 mean?

Surface preparation grades according to ISO 8501-1 and their practical meaning before coating.

Hot-dip galvanizing process

Galvanizing steel: why zinc protects better than most people think

Zinc coating formation, sacrificial protection and the behaviour of galvanized surfaces in practice.