Corrosion: the Virus of Engineering

From the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), this publication looks at the process and problems caused by the corrosion of metals. The first part of the publication gives background information for students on elements, atoms, ions and electrochemical reactions involved in rusting. This helps students to understand how different metals and alloys will interact with their environment and each other, for example during Galvanic corrosion. The second part of the book contains an extensive array of student activities and demonstrations that can be used to investigate the processes of corrosion. These activities include:

• Migration of ions
• Displacement reactions
• Making a Lemon Battery
• Making a Voltaic pile
• Making a Daniell cell
• Measuring electrode reduction potentials
• Making a rechargeable lead-acid battery
• Electrolysis of zinc chloride
• Electroplating with silver
• What Causes Rusting?
• Visualising the ions involved in rusting
• Protecting against rust
• Anodizing aluminium