The Applications of Galvanic Corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is a type of corrosion in which two different metals are in contact with an electrolyte, leading to the flow of an electric current and an electrochemical reaction. It is an electrochemical reaction in which the metal of a lower electrochemical potential is sacrificed to protect that of a higher electrochemical potential. This phenomenon is commonly seen when two dissimilar metals such as steel and aluminum are placed in contact in an electrolyte. Galvanic corrosion is often used as a form of protection in various engineering and industrial applications, as it can provide effective corrosion protection of vulnerable components.
In some cases, galvanic corrosion can be used to improve the performance of a system. This is done by increasing the electrical conductivity of the system by creating an electrochemical couple between two dissimilar metals. By doing this, the electrons are transferred from one metal to the other, improving the electrical conductivity of the system. Galvanic corrosion can also be applied in order to protect a base metal from corroding. This is done by coating the base metal with a sacrificial coating of a more noble metal, such as zinc or aluminum, which will corrode before the base metal does. The corrosion of the sacrificial coating serves as a barrier that protects the underlying metal from further corrosion.
Galvanic corrosion is also used to reduce friction between two moving surfaces. This is done by thin plating a surface to create a thin layer of a more noble metal such as zinc or brass on top of a base metal, such as steel or iron. This reduces the friction between the two surfaces and allows for smoother and quieter operation.
Finally, galvanic corrosion can be used to prevent future corrosion by electroplating. In this process, an electrochemical couple is created, where two metals of different electrochemical potentials are placed in contact with an electrolyte. When a current is passed through the electrolyte, an electrochemical reaction occurs, which deposits one metal onto the other. This process is used to provide corrosion resistance to the underlying metal and can be applied to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
In summary, galvanic corrosion is a type of corrosion in which two different metals are in contact with an electrolyte, leading to the flow of an electric current and an electrochemical reaction. It is an electrochemical reaction in which the metal of a lower electrochemical potential is sacrificed to protect that of a higher electrochemical potential. Galvanic corrosion is often used as a form of protection in various engineering and industrial applications, as it can provide effective corrosion protection of vulnerable components. It can also be used to improve the performance of a system by increasing its electrical conductivity, to protect a base metal from corroding, or to reduce friction between two moving surfaces or to prevent future corrosion through electroplating.
