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Corrosion Control: Materials Selection

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In this lesson  of the Corrosion Prevention and Control distance learning course offered by RMC  Division of Continuing Studies, you will learn the basics of corrosion control through better materials selection. The degradation of manufactured materials by the mechanism we call corrosion is a natural process by which the components of these materials would rather revert back to more stable chemical substances. Selecting materials as a function of their performance and maintenance qualities forces system designers and procurers to consider all issues associated with materials over the life of the systems to be built.

In this lesson it will be shown that the selection of materials is a complex process that has to take in consideration, besides the corrosion performance of a material, issues associated with its mechanical strength, its cost and availability, as well as its reparability.  

Lesson Objectives

• Understand important materials selection issues
• Describe the main materials fabrication processes
• Compare the requirements associated with the fabrication of components and systems
• Analyze the cost associated with the introduction of new materials
• Explain the impact of weld and joining ability of materials on the overall life performance of a system
• Compare the corrosion resistance of the main engineering metallic materials with their mechanical properties

Required Reading

• Prevention by materials selection
• Materials properties:
  • Fabricability
  • Availability
  • Cost
  • Weldability
  • Mechanical properties
  • Corrosion resistance of metals and alloys
• Basics of corrosion economics

Self Assessment Problems

You should find all the information required to answer these problems by consulting the information module on Corrosion Economics, paying special attention to some of the examples given.

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