Corrosionassisted

Corrosionassisted is a cross-disciplinary term used to describe degradation processes in which corrosion reactions facilitate or accelerate mechanical damage to materials. It does not constitute a single mechanism but rather a class of phenomena in which corrosive environments interact with mechanical stresses, friction, or wear to promote failure more rapidly than corrosion or mechanical action would alone.

Key manifestations include corrosion-assisted cracking, such as stress corrosion cracking (SCC) that occurs when a susceptible alloy is under tensile stress in a corrosive environment; corrosion-assisted fatigue, where cyclic stresses and corrosion lead to accelerated crack initiation and growth; and tribocorrosion, where sliding contact in a corrosive medium produces material removal and corrosion synergy.

Other forms include galvanic corrosion in loaded assemblies, crevice corrosion under confinement, hydrogen-related degradation (where hydrogen generated by corrosion causes embrittlement), and corrosion-induced wear. The exact mechanism depends on material, environment, stress state, and motion.

Assessment typically involves electrochemical techniques (polarization, impedance spectroscopy), fatigue or fracture testing in relevant environments, and surface analysis of fracture features. Modelling may combine corrosion kinetics with fracture mechanics to predict life under corrosive conditions.

Mitigation strategies focus on selecting corrosion-resistant materials, applying protective coatings, controlling environment chemistry, employing cathodic protection where feasible, reducing stress concentrations, and controlling lubrication and wear to minimize interaction with corrosive media.