Corrosion: Your Worst Enemy
| June 04, 2014 |
Corrosion doesn’t just occur to metals, but when it does it’s bad news. Luckily, there are steps you can take prevent it from happening, and reverse its effects if it does.
Corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials, usually metals, through chemical reactions with the surrounding environment. This is often due to a reaction with oxygen, as is the case with rust, a common corrosion you probably already know about.
Corrosion is bad for metals. It causes parts to break down and tools to become less useful. There are various types of corrosion, so the specific cause of corrosion will depend on several factors, including what type of metal is corroding.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different metals have physical or electrical contact with each other. This contact creates strong acids or bases to form and harms the metal by slowly eating away at it. Like most corrosion, galvanic corrosion is inevitability going to occur, and maintenance and part replacement is necessary at regular intervals to prevent its onset.
One of the best ways to prevent corrosion is to maintain a clean machine or tool. Clearing away any corrosion that is present before using the tool can extend the life and quality of the metal. Treating any existing corrosion with anti-corrosive spray is advisable as soon as the corrosion first occurs.
Battery corrosion is another predictable type of corrosion. Batteries are filled with sulfuric acid, and, when this acid reacts with the metal on the battery posts, corrosion occurs. With batteries, corrosion happens more rapidly when the battery has remained unused. One way to prevent this corrosion is to exercise the battery occasionally. Allowing the battery to operate will delay the onset of corrosion and keep the battery healthy.
Further measures to deal with corrosion include anti-corrosion coating. Anti-corrosion paint and powder coats will give the metal a coating of protection from the elements that cause corrosion. This coating is easy to apply, and since this is a great proactive measure to fight corrosion, it is advisable to begin using these coatings early in the life of the tool.