ABSTRACT
Coatings are used to prevent or control corrosion, so an appreciation of the basic principles of corrosion is advantageous to those concerned with coatings technology. When coatings break down, then the steel will corrode, and the nature and anticipated extent of corrosion may well determine the types of coating to be used. Furthermore, the type and degree of corrosion under a paint film will influence its protective value to a marked degree and will, to a considerable extent, affect maintenance decisions. In the case of bare metal coatings, their performance will depend entirely upon the amount of corrosion that occurs in the specific environment of exposure. Again, a basic understanding of corrosion principles is necessary in order to appreciate the way in which cathodic protection operates and the situations in which it can be used.
