Erosion-Corrosion and Fretting

Abstract

This chapter presents the forms of corrosion related to the contact of a metallic surface with something moving on it, be it a fluid or another material. In the former case, erosion-corrosion phenomena may onset due to the rapid flow of a fluid on a metal, which combines corrosion with physical-mechanical interactions as turbulence, cavitation or impingement of particles on its surface. On the other hand, if a solid body slides on a metal surface, typically in the form of cyclic micrometric slips such as those created by vibration , fretting corrosion establishes, causing a range of damages from simple loss of brightness to the formation of craters that then trigger fatigue cracks.

In the cycling return of many solar years a ring, furiously worn on finger, thins inside, a water drop falling continuously carves the stone, curved ferrous plough wears hidden in soil , on streets people feet have consumed the pavement, and on doors bronze statues show worn by the frequent right hand touch of those who greet when passing through.

Lucretius, De rerum natura, I, 311–318