The cost to the member nations of NATO of the degradation of materials due to corrosion amounts to some 3-5 per cent of their Gross National Product, which is a significant sum. It is essential to understand the nature of the corrosion process in order to be able to develop effective methods for the control of this destructive phenomenon. Fortunately, in recent years a revolution has taken place in the development of electrochemical and optical techniques and the associated instrumentation which has greatly aided the quest for a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in metallic corrosion and passivation. The general approach to the topic adopted by this book is to cover the principles of the main electrochemical and optical techniques that can be used in corrosion research, testing and monitoring. The application of those techniques to many different types and cases of corrosion is also presented. An emphasis is placed on the uses of the techniques and instrumentation in corrosion research and laboratory testing, as well as on their application to the monitoring of corrosion in industry.
