Environmental Degradation of Metals

Citation

Aligizaki, K.K. (2004), "Environmental Degradation of Metals", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 51 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2004.12851dae.001

Environmental Degradation of Metals

Environmental Degradation of Metals

U.K. Chatterjee, S.K. Bose, S.K. RoyMarcel Dekker Inc. (www.marceldekker.com)2001498 p.ISBN 0-8247-9920-8US $ 185.00, Hardbound

Keywords: Environment, Metals, Corrosion

The book offers readers the fundamental knowledge of common types of environmentally assisted degradation of metals, and measures used to prevent such degradation. The book covers aqueous corrosion of metals and alloys in a variety of environments, corrosion at low and high temperatures, hydrogen damage, liquid metal attack, and damage by radiation.

The book is divided into nine chapters. After a short introductory chapter (chapter 1), chapters 2, 3 and 4 treat aqueous corrosion, including the fundamental mechanisms, the forms of corrosion observed, and prevention techniques. Metal oxidation processes at low temperatures (tarnishing) and at high temperatures (scaling) are described in detail in chapter 5. Alloy oxidation and the mechanisms involved are treated in chapter 6. The book concludes with three chapters that discuss briefly the specific types of corrosion: liquid metal attack, hydrogen damage, and radiation damage.

The text handles in detail corrosion in aqueous solutions, including water, seawater, various process streams, moisture in the atmosphere, and water in the soil. The electrolyte considered can be acidic, alkaline or neutral. All commonly known types of corrosion are described including among others general, pitting, galvanic, crevice, filiform, erosion, and biologically assisted corrosion. The prevention mechanisms presented include materials selection, environment control by removal of corrosive constituents and/or use of corrosion inhibitors, protective coatings, and cathodic and anodic prevention. Emphasis is given on how design improvement can prevent corrosion.

Even though the book does not include advanced electrochemical theories, it sufficiently covers kinetic aspects and rate equations to explain the processes presented. A strong feature of the book is the metal oxidation processes described, including defect chemistry of oxides, scale growth by lattice and grain boundary diffusion, formation of voids, porosities and other macrodefects in the lattice.

The authors have included plenty of sketches, photographs and micrographs that demonstrate clearly the topics examined. Each chapter contains a brief list of references for further information. The writing style is clear and consistent throughout the text, and the explanations understandable. An index at the end of the book facilitates search of concepts covered in different chapters throughout the text.

The book is intended to be a textbook or reference book for upper-class undergraduate and graduate students in Materials Science, Corrosion Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering and related disciplines; it could also be used as a reference book for practicing engineers in these fields. Instructors considering the book as a textbook or reference book for a course in the topic will find it useful. However, it does not cover experimental processes or ways to analyze experimental results for testing the specific degradation processes, and standard testing procedures. An instructor interested in including laboratory exercises on the specific topic in his/her course should acquire the needed information from his/her own experimental experience.

Kalliopi K. AligizakiBook review editorE-mail:kalliopi@gmx.net