Rusting and corrosion are two very common processes that we come across in our everyday life. We already have the knowledge that they disintegrate the materials and focusing on this we randomly use these terms without knowing the difference. Based on the destruction they cause, sometimes people find it confusing to differentiate between the two.
The two terms might give us the same idea while they are not synonyms for one another. There are indeed some major differences between the two. Hence we need to learn and understand the two processes individually.
Rust vs Corrosion
The main difference between Rust and Corrosion is that Rusting is a type of oxidation that mainly affects the surfaces of iron and alloys of iron. However, corrosion is a form of degradation of materials that can affect various surfaces from metal to wood. Rusting itself is a part of corrosion.
Rusting can take place only on metal surfaces, iron to be specified. It also affects alloys of iron such as steel. This happens when iron substances come in contact with both air and moisture. It forms iron oxides as its end product. It is a type of corrosion, rather the most common type.
On the other hand, corrosion can take place on both metallic and non-metallic surfaces. It forms metallic oxides, hydroxides, or salts of the substances as its end products. This chemical reaction destroys the material or makes it weaker.
Comparison Table Between Rust and Corrosion
| Parameters of Difference | Rust | Corrosion |
| Definition | The chemical process in which a red or orange coating forms on the surface of the material, is called rusting. The layer formed is known as rust. | The process of degradation of material that occurs due to chemical or electrochemical reactions is known as corrosion. |
| Surface | It only occurs on the surface of iron or alloys of iron. | It may occur on various surfaces such as metals, wood, etc. |
| Cause | It mainly takes place when some metal is exposed to air as well as moisture. | It mainly takes place when the substances are exposed to the air or some chemicals. |
| Products | It results in the formation of metal oxides or salts. | It results in the formation of iron oxides. |
| Substances | It can affect substances like polymers or ceramics. | It affects none but iron substances or their alloys. |
What is Rust?
To be specific, rusting is the oxidation of iron and its alloys. It affects the properties of the material that includes physical appearance, structure, and strength. Once a metal starts to rust, it eventually spreads, making it weaker. It further makes the substances unusable.
It occurs when metals are exposed to the environment without any protection or preventive measures. Both air and moisture are the causative agents. When a metallic surface comes in contact with these two, it forms metallic oxides which in turn deteriorates the substance.
By far, water is known to be the most common agent. Prolonged exposure to water causes the metallic ions to readily bond with the oxygen present in water. This in turn leads to the formation of iron oxides on the surface. It makes the material weak by forming a red crust due to the presence of iron oxide.
Rusting is a type of corrosion and thus it has a specific range of materials to affect. Chlorine water is proved to cause rusting at a faster rate. Along with the formation of oxides, the chlorine ion bonds with the saltwater. If not treated immediately, the destruction happens at quite a faster rate.
What is Corrosion?
Corrosion affects a wide range of materials since it includes both metallic and non-metallic substances. It eventually results in the formation of metallic oxides or salt of the respective material.
Every substance has different kinds of elements in it. Thus their resistance varies too. Some of them might be resistant to corrosion while others can be prone to it. It depends on the original property of the material.
A number of external factors such as strong acids, bases, water, and chemicals can be the causative agent for corrosion. Even gaseous substances like ammonia gas or acid vapors might lead to corrosion of various materials.
Corrosion is caused by some definite chemical reaction. They are corrosive in nature and include strong acids or bases like HCL and NaOH. These types of chemicals are termed corrosive chemicals and can cause
Main Differences Between Rust and Corrosion
- Rusting affects only metals. It mainly includes iron and its alloys such as steel. Corrosion affects both metals and non-metals. It might even include wood or skin.
- Coating the surface of materials is the most effective way to prevent corrosion. In the case of rust, the most effective preventive measure is galvanization. Also, keeping them with minimum moisture contact is important.
- In rust, the end product which forms is red or orange whereas, in the case of corrosion, it forms a variety of colors ranging from blue to green.
- The causative agent for rusting is air and moisture. Rusting occurs only when the metal surface is exposed to both air and moisture. On the other hand, corrosion might take place either due to air or moisture or both.
- Rusting does not require any particular chemical reaction to take place but can be accelerated by one. However, in the case of corrosion, there is always some strong corrosive reaction taking place. It might be some strong acids or bases.
Conclusion
Well despite such unique characteristics, Rust and Corrosion are indeed interconnected. First of all, both of them are oxidation reactions that result in the corruption of substances. An interesting fact is that all kind of rusting is a form of corrosion but all kinds corrosions are not rusting.
Their preventive measures are quite similar. This includes painting the surface of the substances to prevent direct contact with the air, using anti-oxidants, or galvanization. The iron substances especially need to be kept away from moisture.
Reference
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652616319047
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/matertrans/46/1/46_1_136/_article/-char/ja/