A new way to fight corrosion

In the presence of oxygen and water iron will convert to iron oxide hydrate. If these two factors are absent, iron will not rust. Consequently, corrosion prevention must preserve the metal from access of moisture, oxygen being always present in the atmosphere. Contrary to the oxides of aluminium or copper, some iron oxides tend to form spongy, loosely adhering crusts which by themselves do not protect the metal. The object of protective coatings is always the prevention of oxide formation or the conversion of the oxide into a more stable form. The classical rust inhibitive paints attempt to produce films on the metal which are water‐repellent.