Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/corrosion

Introduction

### Course Review: Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering **Overview** Corrosion is an everyday phenomenon that we often overlook, yet it has profound implications for our environment, economy, and safety. The course "Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering," offered by the Corrosion@Manchester team in collaboration with AkzoNobel, aims to demystify this pervasive issue. It is designed for a diverse audience—ranging from students and professionals to teachers and interested householders—who wish to grasp the intricacies of corrosion, its causes, and effective mitigation strategies. **Course Content and Structure** The course spans four weeks, each delving into different dimensions of corrosion science and engineering. Below is a detailed exploration of the content covered in each week. **Week 1: Principles of Corrosion** In the opening week, participants are introduced to the fundamental concepts of corrosion. The course starts with a broad overview, covering the economic implications of corrosion and outlining common types—such as uniform, galvanic, and pitting corrosion. By highlighting the significance of proper engineering design, the course underscores how effective approaches can minimize corrosion-related issues. Furthermore, the week wraps up with a fascinating look at real-life corrosion failures curated from the Corrosion@Manchester museum, cementing the theoretical knowledge with practical insights. **Week 2: Cathodic Protection** Building on the foundational knowledge, Week 2 dives into cathodic protection—a vital method used to prevent corrosion in metal structures. This week is structured in a way that combines theory with practical application, explaining how cathodic protection systems are designed and implemented. With six sessions, each complemented by quizzes, learners can engage actively with the material. The discussions on reinforcing concrete structures and the factors affecting concrete quality lend themselves to broader engineering applications and concerns. **Week 3: Surface Engineering** Surface engineering is the focus of Week 3, where participants explore how protective coatings can effectively shield surfaces from corrosion. This week emphasizes the importance of surface properties and the various techniques employed in surface engineering. Discussions on coating performance, protection mechanisms, and industrial applications provide essential insights that are applicable across various industries—from automotive to construction. **Week 4: Oilfield Corrosion and Control** The final week shifts gears to oilfield corrosion science and its unique challenges. The course elucidates the specific types of corrosion encountered in oilfields and degradation processes that affect equipment integrity. Participants will learn about sweet and sour corrosion dynamics, seawater corrosion issues, and effective corrosion management strategies. This practical outlook is crucial for professionals operating in the oil and gas sector. **Overall Impression and Recommendation** "Protecting the World: Introducing Corrosion Science and Engineering" is an enlightening course that elegantly balances theoretical knowledge with practical applications. The curriculum's structured approach ensures that learners build upon their knowledge progressively week by week. The inclusion of quizzes at the end of each session helps reinforce understanding, making the learning process interactive and engaging. **Who Should Take This Course?** This course is highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding how corrosion affects daily life and industrial applications. Students in related fields, professionals working in engineering and maintenance, and even DIY enthusiasts will find value in this comprehensive overview of corrosion science. Additionally, educators can use this course as a unique resource when teaching materials science or environmental engineering concepts. **Conclusion** Corrosion may seem like a trivial issue at first glance, but its implications stretch far and wide. This course offers a robust educational foundation in corrosion science and control, equipping participants with the necessary knowledge to approach corrosion in various contexts. By the end of the four weeks, you'll not only have a clearer understanding of corrosion mechanisms but also practical tools for managing and mitigating its effects. If you are curious about the interplay of metals and their environments, this course is a must-take. Enroll today and take the first step towards making a significant impact in the world of corrosion science!

Syllabus

Week 1: Principles of Corrosion

In Week 1 we show you the scientific and engineering concepts that are important to an understanding of corrosion in practise. Section 1 provides a brief outline of what corrosion is, how much it costs and how corrosion engineers can help. Section 2 lists, with examples, the eight types of corrosion and shows the important of good engineering design on corrosion control. Section 3 focuses on materials properties and introduces how the corrosion of metals (zinc) may be understood. Section 4 looks directly at the economic and social consequences of corrosion. In section 5 we pick up the pace to focus on the science of electrochemical corrosion. Finally, in section 6, we wind up with a selection of corrosion failures chosen from the Corrosion@Manchester museum.

This week, will discuss how cathodic protection works and how it can be applied in practice to protect metallic structures.Firstly, we’ll discuss some of the basic principles behind cathodic protection, and we will see how some of the concepts you have learned in the other units are applied in a cathodic protection scenario.Subsequently, we’ll discuss some aspects related to the design of cathodic protection systems, such as for example the criteria that have to be satisfied to achieve a good level of corrosion protection, or the method used to assess the requirements for an existing structure in terms of cathodic protection current.Finally, we’ll touch on cathodic protection of reinforced concrete structures, discussing the factors that contribute to good concrete quality and discussing how we can protect the reinforcement steel bars by using cathodic protection.This week’s material is split into 6 sessions. Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes; at the end of each session, there will be a quiz to test your knowledge.

In Week 3, we will introduce Surface Engineering. The learning materials for this week are organised into five sections. Throughout the week, we will clarify what surface engineering is and why surfaces are important. We will look into how coatings protect surfaces from corrosion and will discuss coating design criteria. We will also consider various Surface Engineering techniques. Finally, we will turn our attention to industrial applications of coatings for corrosion protection, coating performance and failure mechanisms.

Week 4 provides an introduction to oilfield corrosion science and engineering. You will learn about pertinent corrosion phenomena, as well as other degradation processes, along with approaches to minimise facility degradation. Specific topics include: types of oilfield equipment; sweet/sour corrosion; seawater corrosion; scaling; erosion; corrosion prediction; corrosion inhibition; corrosion management. All content in this section is section is licensed under Creative Commons Atrribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License