1. Introduction to Corrosion

Since this book is intended to initiate students into an interdisciplinary field of microbial induced corrosion, a glimpse of the importance of this course is provided to begin with. Further, since the reader may not be having appropriate background of corrosion, the first chapter of the book starts with the aim to let him/her become aware of fundamentals of corrosion. Accordingly, the chapter starts with basic definition of corrosion, various important chemical/electrochemical reactions, thermodynamics, and kinetic aspects related to corrosion. Then, it goes on to discuss different types of corrosion that occur under various circumstances. Finally, the chapter gives an idea about the basic aspects related to measurement and testing for quantification of extent of corrosion experienced by materials in laboratory as well as in-plant conditions. These measurements help in deciding about the suitability of material of construction for a given chemical environment, in laboratory as well as in real-life conditions.