Corrosion damage results from what type of attack?

Corrosion damage primarily results from electrochemical attack, which is influenced by factors in the environment such as the atmosphere and moisture. This type of attack occurs when metals react with environmental elements, leading to deterioration of the material. In the presence of moisture and oxygen, electrochemical processes can create an electrolyte environment that facilitates the oxidation of metals, resulting in corrosion.

Understanding that corrosion is an electrochemical process helps in recognizing how substances can accelerate or mitigate this type of damage. For instance, galvanic corrosion can occur when two dissimilar metals are in contact within an electrolytic environment, demonstrating the role that moisture and atmospheric conditions play in corrosion.

Mechanical abrasion, thermal expansion, and impact from external forces do not directly cause corrosion. Instead, these phenomena might lead to wear, structural failure, or changes in material properties, but they do not fundamentally initiate the electrochemical reactions that characterize corrosion processes. Hence, the main cause of corrosion damage is firmly rooted in the electrochemical interaction that occurs in environments rich in moisture and oxygen.