What does the term 'localized corrosion' refer to?

Localized corrosion refers to corrosion that is concentrated in specific areas rather than being distributed evenly across a surface. This type of corrosion often leads to significant damage despite perhaps only affecting a small portion of the material. It can occur due to factors like variations in the environment surrounding the material, the presence of contaminants, or material defects.

Common forms of localized corrosion include pitting, crevice corrosion, and intergranular corrosion. Each of these involves the development of small, localized areas of deterioration that can penetrate deeply into the material, leading to structural integrity issues. Understanding localized corrosion is crucial for effective materials management and maintenance because it often goes undetected until significant damage occurs.