Metal science and corrosion

This course aims to give a fundamental knowledge on the structure of metals analysing their main characteristics, starting from band structure to predict their physico-chemical properties. The acquired concepts are applied to understand the rationale of corrosion phenomena. Problems strictly connected with corrosion processes are also presented and discussed

Students will know basic concepts in the science of metals and in electrochemistry, acquiring a fundamental knowledge of corrosion and of the strategies aimed to prevent it or to protect a metal from being corroded. Students, at the end of the lessons, will be able not only to discuss the proprieties of different metals, due to their bond structure, and to rear a Pourbaix diagrams, but also to face different corrosion phenomena, to distinguish among different type of corrosions, to choose the best strategies to prevent corrosion and to protect metals, including the selection of the most suitable metallic materials. Finally, students will be able to solve some specific problems connected with corrosion phenomena.