In practical terms, the salient features of the system and water being
considered will dictate the forms in which corrosion may manifest itself. A
discussion of the basic mechanism of these forms of corrosion is quite useful in
gaining a more complete understanding of the process of corrosion.
The following describes the cause and characteristics of some common
corrosion mechanisms affecting water-bearing equipment. Some are related to the
design of the system, others to the composition of the water phase and still
others to the peculiarities of a particular metal. While it would be virtually
impossible to cover every corrosion mechanism known today, the general
information contained should be adequate for normal applications.