ABSTRACT
According to Weisser and Bange 2000 it was Lavoisier who in 1770 first recorded the aqueous corrosion of a silicate glass predominantly by use of an analytical balance. The analysis of corrosion has been changing over the years with the greatest changes probably taking place within the last 30 years. These changes have been due mostly to the availability of sophisticated computerized analytical tools. It has taken many years for investigators to become familiar with the results obtained and how to interpret them. In some cases, special sample preparation techniques had to be perfected. Although one could conceivably employ all the various characterization methods described below, in most cases only a few are needed to obtain sufficient information to solve a particular problem. The determination of the overall mechanism of corrosion requires a thorough detailed investigation using several characterization methods. Many times, though, the investigator has a limited amount of time and/or funds to obtain his data and thus must rely on a few well-chosen tools. It should be obvious that considerable thought should be given to the selection of samples, test conditions, characterization methods, and interpretation of the results, especially if the data are to be used for prediction of lifetimes in actual service conditions.
