Korozijom

Korozijom is the instrumental form of the noun korozija in several South Slavic languages, notably Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian. In everyday and technical usage, it denotes the action or process of corrosion—deterioration caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions between a material, usually a metal, and its environment. The term appears in descriptions of failure mechanisms, material performance, and maintenance practices.

Corrosion is driven by reactions between a material and oxidants such as oxygen and water, often accelerated by electrolytes, acids, chlorides, or heat. It can occur uniformly over a surface or locally as pits, crevices, or cracks. Common forms include galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals, uniform corrosion, pitting, crevice corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and microbiologically influenced corrosion. Metals vary in susceptibility: iron and steel tend to rust; aluminum and its alloys can form protective oxide films but still suffer localized attack; copper alloys may experience dezincification or pitting when exposed to aggressive environments.

Impacts of korozijom include structural weakening, leaks, safety hazards, and economic costs due to maintenance and replacement. Prevention and control rely on proper material selection, design to minimize crevices and differential aeration, protective coatings and paints, passivation, inhibitors, and, where appropriate, cathodic or anodic protection. Regular inspection and monitoring, including visual checks, corrosion coupons, and nondestructive testing (ultrasound, radiography, eddy current), help assess corrosion rates and remaining life.

In technical literature, korozijom is discussed across disciplines such as materials science, civil and chemical engineering, and maritime and energy sectors, reflecting its broad relevance to durability and safety.