Corrosion

Nature

Most materials, particularly metals and alloys, when exposed to most environments, are affected on the surface by simple oxidation, or electrochemical (electrolytic) or chemical reactions with the acidic or alkaline agents which may be present. Corrosion may be either wet or dry according to whether the environment is primarily liquid or gaseous, and may take the forms of superficial scaling (in some cases resulting in the formation of a desirable protective layer) or pitting, galvanic attack between dissimilar metals, intergranular cracking due to localized attack at grain boundaries, stress corrosion, dezincification or selective leaching of alloys, erosion-corrosion in the presence of wear, high temperature corrosion, or microbial and bacterial corrosion. The rate of corrosion often depends upon atmospheric conditions: rainfall and relative humidity, as well as air pollution, all tend to accelerate the process. As a health factor, corrosion in water supply systems (pipes, tanks, wells, etc) causes impurities directly, and also indirectly by allowing foreign matter to enter into the system.

Background

Corrosion emerged as a significant global concern with the industrial revolution, when widespread failures of metal infrastructure—such as bridges, pipelines, and ships—drew attention to its destructive impact. Early 20th-century disasters, including bridge collapses and shipwrecks, prompted systematic scientific investigation and international collaboration. Over time, the escalating economic and safety costs associated with corrosion have led to its recognition as a pervasive threat to modern industry, public safety, and resource sustainability worldwide.

Incidence

Estimates of corrosion costs per year based on a 1978 study for an industrialized nation found that the cost of corrosion was approximately 4.2% of the Gross National Product. Of this total, about 15% was estimated to be avoidable through the application of best practice corrosion control technology.

Claim

Corrosion is a critical and often underestimated problem that threatens our infrastructure, safety, and economy. Ignoring corrosion leads to catastrophic failures in bridges, pipelines, and machinery, endangering lives and costing billions in repairs and replacements. This relentless process silently destroys valuable assets, demanding urgent attention and proactive management. We cannot afford to overlook corrosion any longer—addressing it must be a top priority for engineers, policymakers, and industries worldwide.

Counter-claim

Corrosion is vastly overrated as a problem. In today’s world, advanced materials and protective coatings make rust and decay almost irrelevant. Modern engineering easily outpaces the slow crawl of corrosion, rendering it a minor inconvenience rather than a true threat. Resources spent worrying about corrosion could be better used elsewhere—after all, it’s hardly a pressing issue when compared to real technological and environmental challenges facing society today.