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In materials engineering, what is corrosion?

Corrosion is material deterioration caused by interaction with the environment.

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  1. Rusting, which only happens to iron and steel
  2. Deterioration through environmental interaction ✔
  3. Wear from parts rubbing together

Why: Corrosion is a chemical or electrochemical attack that degrades a material in service. Rusting steel is familiar, but other metals and materials can corrode too.

Huh, didn't know that: Corrosion control can involve coatings, material selection, environmental control, or electrochemical protection.

The dad joke
Rust never sleeps, but engineers give it a coating and a bedtime.
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References

Answer: Deterioration through environmental interaction. Corrosion is a chemical or electrochemical attack that degrades a material in service. Rusting steel is familiar, but other metals and materials can corrode too.

  1. DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Material Science www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/DOE-HDBK-1017-93_VOL1.pdf
    Corrosion is the deterioration of a material due to interaction with its environment.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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