A chronological arrangement has been made of some developments relating to corrosion, in which references are given to papers and patents that were considered to be among the significant contributions to advancement of understanding of its nature, or control of its manifestations. Excerpts from a few of the earlier papers are given. Early developments in the electrochemical concept of corrosion are summarized.
Intergranular corrosion of α-brass was produced in both ammoniacal and non-ammoniacal solutions, and on both visually bare and filmed surfaces. Cracking of 70–30 brass under stress occurred only in solutions containing NH3. When the surface of the brass was visually bare, path of cracking was transgranular; when the surface was filmed, it was intergranular. Addition of NH4+ ion prevented trans-granular cracking. Addition of Cl− ion produced transgranular cracking on both visually bare and filmed surfaces. When NO3− was added, path of cracking was transgranular on visually bare surfaces, but on filmed surfaces there was no cracking.
An appraisal has been made of the reports of Robert Mallet on the action of water and air upon iron and steel, based on tests made in 1838–42 under the sponsorship of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. These reports are of interest for their revelation of the remarkably clear, comprehensive and practical knowledge of corrosion possessed at that early date. A brief review of some aspects of progress in the understanding of corrosion from 1800 to the present is also given.
Literature on the oxygen concentration cell has been reviewed. The discovery and early history of the cell are outlined, and environmental conditions favorable to its development are classified and discussed. Theories of the mechanism of the cell are presented. The current produced by an oxygen concentration cell is considered in terms of the open-circuit potentials and polarizing characteristics of the anode and cathode, and the resistance of the metal and electrolyte. Selected quantitative data are shown in tabular and graphic form.
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