10.1.7

Preventing Corrosion

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Preventing Corrosion

There are three main methods used to stop metals corroding.

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Coatings

  • We can prevent corrosion by applying a coating that acts as a barrier, such as greasing, painting or electroplating.
    • E.g. Aluminium has an oxide coating that protects the metal from further corrosion by preventing the metal's surface coming into contact with oxygen and water.
  • A disadvantage is that any damage to the coating will lead to the metal becoming exposed and so corrosion will take place.
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Sacrificial method

  • In the sacrificial method, a metal that requires protection will have a more reactive metal attached to it.
  • This means that water and oxygen will stop reacting with the protected metal as they are too busy reacting with the sacrificial metal!
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Galvanising

  • Galvanising is a hybrid of coatings and the sacrificial method.
    • The metal that needs protecting is sprayed with a more reactive metal. This initially acts as a coating.
    • If the more reactive metal is damaged, it will continue to protect as a sacrificial metal.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

3Atomic Structure

4The Periodic Table

5Chemical Formulae, Equations & Calculations

6Bonding

7Electrolysis

8Groups of the Periodic Table

9The Atmosphere

10Reactivity Series

11Metal Extraction

12Acids & Alkalis

13Chemical Tests

14Physical Chemistry

15Organic Chemistry

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